Sister's Kidney, Brother's Life Saved by Love and Heavy-Ion Therapy
Sister’s Kidney Donation Saves Brother, Love Moves Heaven and Earth
Heavy-Ion Therapy Continues Life, Turning the Tide Against Odds
A gifted pillar of the education world, who had long suffered from kidney failure, was saved by his sister's kidney donation, allowing him to survive. However, the good times were short-lived, as cancer mercilessly struck again—this time in the form of a digestive system tumor. With only one transplanted kidney, he was not only ineligible for surgical treatment but also unable to take many medications. Just when all hope seemed lost, he learned about the latest global cancer treatment technology—heavy-ion therapy—and saw a ray of hope for recovery.
At 18:00 on October 19th, the expert team at the Wuwei Heavy Ion Center had just concluded a multidisciplinary consultation on Mr. Zhao’s heavy ion treatment and initially determined the treatment plan. While this is a routine scene at the Wuwei Heavy Ion Center, for Mr. Zhao, who has endured repeated setbacks and suffering from illness, it undoubtedly represents a newfound hope for life.
Devoted to teaching, yet struck by unexpected storms
Mr. Zhao, in his fifties, is a talented and beloved people's teacher deeply adored by his students. He has dedicated himself to teaching on the modest podium, imparting knowledge and mentoring countless students, only to be struck down by illness.
In 2004, while away for training, Mr. Zhao noticed discomfort in his body and went to the hospital for a check-up. The results revealed that he was suffering from chronic nephritis. Like most people, Mr. Zhao did not take the diagnosis seriously and opted for medication. From 2004 to 2018, over the course of 14 years, he sought treatment at various hospitals, yet his condition showed no signs of improvement.
As 2018 drew to a close, just as Mr. Zhao was preparing to celebrate the New Year, he suddenly came down with a cold and fever. Believing himself experienced in managing illness, he self-prescribed cold medicine. Unexpectedly, not only did his cold fail to improve, but he also began experiencing symptoms such as vomiting. Accompanied by his family, Mr. Zhao was admitted to a local hospital, where blood tests showed a creatinine level as high as 400 μmol/L—several times the normal range—indicating kidney failure. Faced with such a serious situation, Mr. Zhao and his family transferred to a provincial hospital for treatment. After his condition was somewhat stabilized, he returned to the local hospital, where he underwent nearly a year of continuous dialysis treatment.
Family love is priceless, and sibling bonds run deep
A year of dialysis treatment, averaging three sessions per week, took a severe toll on Mr. Zhao’s physical and mental well-being. Throughout the dialysis process, his family continuously sought a suitable kidney donor but received no promising news for a long time. Just as hope seemed to be fading for Mr. Zhao, his elder sister stepped forward. Driven by the deep bond of blood, she resolutely decided to donate one of her kidneys to her brother, who was fighting against his illness. On May 18, 2020, a day Mr. Zhao would remember for the rest of his life, he underwent surgery at a hospital in Shanghai and successfully received a kidney transplant from his sister. Perhaps it was Mr. Zhao’s unwavering determination, or perhaps it was the profound sibling love that moved fate—unexpectedly, Mr. Zhao recovered remarkably after the transplant. Each day brought steady improvement, and he and his loved ones finally wore rare smiles on their faces once again.
Troubles arise again, and dark clouds loom
Who could have imagined that disaster would strike this ordinary family once again. In May 2021, Mr. Zhao suddenly felt unwell, experiencing unexplained anal pain and a sensation of rectal pressure. After an examination, he underwent a hemorrhoidectomy at a local private clinic. Just as he thought everything was improving, the same symptoms returned in July, this time with greater intensity. Subsequent tests at a provincial hospital delivered a devastating blow to Mr. Zhao—he was diagnosed with malignant rectal cancer.
Faced with the return of illness, Mr. Zhao and his family responded proactively, seeking various treatment options. However, due to his prior kidney transplant surgery—with one kidney essentially nonfunctional and his body reliant solely on the transplanted kidney—intravenous chemotherapy was entirely out of the question. Surgical intervention, immunotherapy, and many specialized medications were also ruled out because of the kidney transplant.
Each rejected treatment option subtly pushed Mr. Zhao and his family deeper into despair. To them, the hard-won progress they had made seemed once again on the brink of collapse, casting a shadow of immense sorrow over this unfortunate family.
Heavy-ion therapy rekindles hope
Just as Mr. Zhao was on the verge of giving up, news about heavy-ion therapy offered him a glimmer of hope.
Heavy-ion therapy, specifically referred to as "Jingang Ion" at the Wuwei Heavy Ion Center, is currently the world’s most advanced tumor treatment technology. Due to Mr. Zhao’s unique health condition, major treatment options such as surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy had been ruled out by multiple hospitals, leaving radiotherapy as the only viable approach. However, conventional X-ray radiotherapy would inevitably damage his only remaining kidney, failing to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. Only heavy-ion therapy, with its exceptional physical and biological properties, could treat his rectal malignant tumor while providing the greatest possible protection for his sole kidney. After extensive consultations and recommendations from several doctors, Mr. Zhao came to the Wuwei Heavy Ion Center with his last hope and decided to undergo inpatient treatment.
After admission, the Wuwei Heavy Ion Center organized a multidisciplinary consultation for the patient’s special condition. The center’s specially appointed experts, Professor Yee-Min Jen and Professor Wu Jiaming from Taiwan, conducted multiple ward rounds and led the development of a diagnosis and treatment plan following the multidisciplinary consultation.
Currently, Mr. Zhao is undergoing treatment at the Wuwei Heavy Ion Center. To his surprise, he experiences no discomfort daily—he simply lies quietly on the machine for less than an hour to complete the treatment, while the tumor gradually shrinks day by day. Soon, he will finish the globally leading heavy-ion therapy and return home.
High-tech heavy-ion treatment has allowed the deeply moving act of familial love—the kidney donation—to continue giving life.