Have you calculated the chances of matching unrelated hematopoietic stem cells? Typically, this occurs in 1 in 400 to 1 in 10,000, and in rare cases, it may even happen in 1 in hundreds of thousands of cases. Haolin Liu, a student from the School of Electronic Engineering in our university, felt touched by such a “miracle” probability.

Having recently donated 222 milliliters of hematopoietic stem cells, Liu became the 688th hematopoietic stem cell donor in Anhui Province and the 76th in Huainan City. This has enabled Liu to bring “the light of life” to a patient and “the hope of survival” to a family in Zhejiang province.

A Fateful “Yes”: The Start of a Lifesaving Journey

“Meeting you has been the greatest blessing of my life.”

It is not a romantic proclamation, but rather a thank-you note from a female leukemia patient to Liu. It is his kindness and courage that have brought hope of life to this woman who has endured so much suffering.

Liu received a phone call from the Anhui Provincial Red Cross Society on August 20, 2024: “Your hematopoietic stem cells have initially matched a leukemia patient. Would you be willing to undergo further high-resolution matching?”

A high-resolution blood match between strangers has a probability of less than 1 in 10,000. After receiving the call, Liu was in a state of disbelief. It appears that the blood sample he kindly left at the China Blood Donation Bank when he and his friends participated in this event actually found a “kindred spirit”.

“Does bone marrow donation hurt?” “Can the procedure harm my body?” “Are there any side effects?” Liu, like many others, was haunted by these questions. A Red Cross Society staff member provided him with detailed information about bone marrow donation, which gave him a more thorough understanding and assured him he would not suffer any harm from the process.

The most effective treatment for leukemia is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Having a blood type match that is successful between two individuals is a miracle, and more importantly, it marks a fateful connection between them. Liu knew that a patient thousands of miles away was anxiously awaiting his response. A few days later, he, after discussing it with his parents and receiving their support, replied firmly: “I am willing to donate.”.

A Priceless Choice: For Life Knows No Price

One of the highest forms of kindness is to save another’s life with one’s own.

It was on September 12 that Liu checked into the Anhui Provincial Hospital. Before donating, he had to take mobilizing agents for five days in order to increase the level of hematopoietic stem cells in his blood. “Only on the night of the second day after the injection did I have a relatively strong reaction, accompanied by soreness in my back and waist,” Liu recalled. “The Red Cross Society took great care of me and always talked to me to help me relax. My mother was also by my side, guiding and encouraging me. This gave me a sense of confidence and courage.”

On September 17, Liu’s hematopoietic stem cells were collected for the first time. A combination of excitement and nervousness filled his heart; excitement that he could save a life, and anxiety about the collection process. “The collection procedure was not as I had imagined. I had needles in both my left and right hands. I stayed lying flat and could not move casually. After it was all done, I felt as though my arms were completely devoid of sensation.”

It took four hours for the collection to be completed. The separator kept running, and 220 ml of stem cell suspension was separated from Liu’s body. This “seed of life” was carefully taken by the staff and, as quickly as possible, gave a leukemia patient hope of recovery.

Since hematopoietic stem cell donations are conducted under a double-blind principle, Liu was unable to identify his “kindred spirit,” only that her family was rushing around to find medical treatment for her aunt, who was anxiously waiting for help. The staff showed him the letter that was written by the patient, and between the lines was the patient’s gratitude and the hope of a new beginning.

Liu found this experience to be very rewarding. In his words, doing a good deed is not as easy as people think, but it is also not that difficult either. Though the collection process can be a bit challenging, if it could save a life, then this small cost would be insignificant. As he said with sincerity, “Life is valuable.”

The Guiding Night: Be a Ray of Light in Others’ Lives

This was unexpected and not at the same time. He is an incredibly warm and kind individual.”

Liu’s university counselor, Zhang Ling, understood completely the nature of Liu’s request and gave him the highest praise and support, “He has excellent character along with strong academic performance, always exhibiting the demeanor of a young Party member in everyday life.”

Liu, a junior this year, usually enjoys sports and traveling. He is regarded as an enthusiastic social worker by his teachers and classmates. He can always be seen at the orientation scene, at the epidemic prevention and control site, at the site managing non-motor vehicle parking on campus, and at various other public welfare activities. Despite his quiet nature, he appears to be filled with a sense of restrained joy.

In his class, Liu serves as the academic representative, conscientiously working to ensure that the study and well-being of the entire class are taken care of. He also directs the Rights and Interests Department of the Student Union in the School of Electronic Engineering and strives to benefit and safeguard the rights and interests of all students. Furthermore, he is a young “veteran” Red Cross volunteer with 11 years of service.

Currently, Liu is safely back on campus. Like all students at Xi’an Shiyou University, he lives an ordinary college life. Despite the fact that he has not mentioned donating hematopoietic stem cells to anyone, he considers it a very meaningful act, since it can provide hope for those suffering from blood diseases. In the future, he hopes that more students at Xi’an Shiyou University will be able to participate in the China Bone Marrow Bank Program if their physical condition permits.

“After learning that my stem cells had been successful in helping the patient, I was overwhelmed with satisfaction and happiness. This decision is not just a simple one; it may change someone’s life for the better. “If you donate to someone in need, you will be a shining light in their life even if you do not know them,” Liu stated.