news

On August 12, a video titled "Policeman Filters Blood Three Times to Save a Little Life" became a hot search topic. Beijing Youth Daily reporters learned that the policeman in the video was Li Cong from Zhuxinzhuang Police Station of Beijing Public Transport Corps. He told Beijing Youth Daily reporters that he had joined the China Bone Marrow Bank since 2017, and the child he donated hematopoietic stem cells to save was born only 11 days after his son's birthday. In order to get enough hematopoietic stem cells for the child's surgery, Li Cong's blood was filtered three times.

Li Cong, who has been a police officer for 17 years, told the Beijing Youth Daily that he has donated blood many times since 2017.

"When I donated blood for the first time, the doctor asked me if I wanted to join the China Bone Marrow Donor Program. I thought, since the original intention is to help others, why refuse?" Li Cong said that he has not received a single request for help in the past few years since he joined the China Bone Marrow Donor Program. Until the end of May this year, Li Cong, who was on duty, received a call from the Beijing Red Cross Donation Service Center, saying that his blood sample from the China Bone Marrow Donor Program had been preliminarily matched with a child with leukemia, and asked if he was willing to help the patient.

"Yes, of course I am willing!" Li Cong said that after hearing his straightforward answer, the other party was a little worried and told him to discuss with his family before confirming whether to donate. "The doctor said that if I regret the donation, it would be like the hope of the patient's family was in front of them, but it was shattered right at their fingertips. It is difficult for most people to accept such a change."

Li Cong did not hesitate at all, "Doctor, I can make the decision on this matter. I will definitely donate." When he learned that the child was born in the same year as his son, with a birthday difference of only 11 days, Li Cong became even more determined and asked, "When can I donate at the earliest?" Later, Li Cong continued to increase the amount of exercise he did every day according to the doctor's request.

"We are all parents. I know how anxious parents are when their children are sick." After agreeing to donate, Li Cong was also thinking about how to "explain" to his son. It is summer vacation now, and other parents are taking their children out to play, but he has to leave home for several days and be hospitalized in advance to inject drugs that help produce hematopoietic stem cells on time to prepare for donation.

After hesitating for a while, he decided to tell the truth, "He is a grown man, we should tell him." Li Cong said that to his surprise, his son was a little excited after hearing the news, and even acted like an adult. He stood up and said, "Li Cong! Go save your little brother! I can do it!"

On July 31, Li Cong moved into the ward with his luggage. The other three people in the same ward were also bone marrow donors who were going to donate bone marrow in the near future. He was isolated in the ward every day and could only talk to his children via video. He said: "I hid 6 big toys at home as gifts for my children. I commanded him to find one through video every day. When he got tired of playing, I went home."

At around 8 o'clock in the morning on August 5, Li Cong arrived at the transplant center early. The thickest steel needles were inserted into both of his arms. Blood was drawn from one arm, and the hematopoietic stem cells were filtered out by a machine and then transfused back into the body through the other arm.

The doctor who was in charge of extracting hematopoietic stem cells at the time told the Beijing Youth Daily reporter that because the extraction of hematopoietic stem cells is very difficult and requires continuous blood drawing and transfusion, Li Cong lay in bed from 8 o'clock in the morning to 1:40 in the afternoon, a total of 5 hours. His blood was filtered 3 times before the 200 ml of hematopoietic stem cells needed by the child were obtained.

Li Cong also joked, "I'm not afraid of blood draws or bleeding, but I just want to go to the toilet these few hours and I can't hold it in any longer."

Afterwards, Li Cong's leader specially approved a half-month vacation for him to rest. Li Cong said, "My blood donation was a personal act, but I didn't expect the company to give me a half-month vacation. I feel sorry for my colleagues and let them suffer." What moved him the most was that when he was discharged from the hospital to pick up his son, his son rushed over and hugged his waist for a long time and refused to let go. "I believe that in my son's eyes, I am a good role model, and I also believe that in my future work and life, this love can also be passed on through other channels." Li Cong said.

Text/Beijing Youth Daily reporter Wang Haoxiong

Editor/Li Tao