Sun Wei never expected that a decision made on the spur of the moment six years ago could have changed his life to such a big degree. Now he is fully involved in China's bone marrow donation program and, what has amazed him most, the boy who regained his life because of his donation has become more and more like him.
Sun Wei in his office.
Sun donated his bone marrow/stem cells in 1996, becoming China's first marrow donor.
Brave Volunteer
Talking about his decision, Sun Wei said quietly: "It was very natural for me to do the thing."
In 1995, Sun Wei learned of China's bone marrow cell repository, founded in 1992, through the Internet.
He never imagined there were so many patients suffering from leukemia but so few bone marrow cell donors in China compared with other developed countries.
"In some American and European countries, it has become a large project, but in China few people know and work for it.
"If a patient undergoes a bone marrow cell transplant, they may escape death. It's their only hope for life," Sun said.
Through the Internet, Sun Wei found out that a bone marrow donor only needs to donate some blood and through a blood separator a doctor gathers blood-making stem cells producing red and white blood cells, platelets and other blood components.
The remaining blood is put back into the donor's body. The whole process causes no ill-effects to the donors.
Believing he could save a young life without any difficulty to himself, he volunteered for a physical examination and joined the bone marrow cell repository.
In 1996, the following year, Sun Wei was notified that his antigen data was a match with that of a 11-year-old leukemia sufferer, Gao Tianyi.
Sun then asked for several days' leave from work. To stimulate a rise in blood-making stem cells in his blood, Sun stayed in hospital taking pills and injections for two days. Doctors collected 100ml of blood-making stem cells from Sun's blood in a blood separator and transplanted it into the boy's body.
"I felt no dizziness or soreness at all. I am always very well, no difference with other persons," said 33-year-old Sun Wei.
All the Tributes
Many elderly people think it inconceivable for anyone to donate blood, let alone bone marrow. In their eyes, bone marrow is the pith of the body and must not be lost. Sun Wei's parents are among those who hold traditional views about blood donation.
For fear that his parents would worry about him, Sun Wei didn't tell them anything about the donation. But one local newspaper broke the news before the surgery.
On the next day, his angry parents hurried to the hospital but Sun Wei had started the donation and they had no way to stop it and had to let it go.
Seeing that their son appeared intact and after listening to the doctor's explanation, they relaxed a little.
However, they still worry about their son's health. They have bought a lot of ginseng and other tonics to boost his nutrition intake.
The transplant attracted the attention of the media because it was the first successful blood-making stem cell operation. Sun Wei achieved fame overnight.
Huangpu Branch of China Construction Bank he belongs to also gave him high praise for his action. "I got almost all the awards young people can attain for it, such as National Excellent Youth League Member and Sharp-Shooter on the New Long March."
Sun Wei's head was not turned by all the tributes he received. "It happened that my HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) was a match with the little boy and so I became the first marrow donor," Sun said.
Still, the donation may have had one after-effect for Sun Wei - one of his colleagues fell in love with him not long after the operation and they are now living happily together.
"I will be a father in several months!" Sun Wei announced proudly.
Startling Similarity
A person's life can change because of something trivial. Sun Wei's life has had many changes since he decided to make his blood donation.
Every Spring Festival, Gao Tianyi and Sun Wei exchange cards and Sun Wei encourages the boy to study hard. Gao's parents have issued a standing invitation to Sun Wei to visit them in Hangzhou.
"The boy has grown up and is very smart," Sun Wei said. "This year he was sent directly to a middle school without any tests because of his outstanding school performance."
To many people's surprise, the boy now resembles Sun Wei. In appearance, bearing and mannerisms Gao Tianyi and Sun Wei are alike.
One day when Sun Wei was reading a card sent from the boy, a passing colleague asked: "How come you are sending cards to yourself?" The handwriting of Sun Wei and Gao Tianyi is so similar that many people think they are exactly the same.
"It's a miracle. Seeing your blood flowing in what was once a stranger's body, gives you unbelievable joy," Sun Wei said.
As the pioneer donor for bone marrow transplants, Sun Wei has to attend many functions related to the procedure. He is a member of Shanghai Red Cross Marrow Donation Volunteers' Club founded in 1999.
Sun Wei and other marrow donors attend universities to explain the process and meaning of donating bone marrow to students. And they visit patients suffering leukemia in hospitals.
They also help out in local blood sampling stations, distributing forms, explaining the procedure and tidying the place.
As more and more join the China Bone Marrow Repository, they collect personal information on all donors for later use.
"We all feel good from the work although it is tiring sometimes. In fact, it has changed me a lot and is now part of my life," said Sun Wei with a smile.
(Shanghai Star September 28, 2002)
