Li Li: Marrow Donation Saves Lives

By staff reporter DANG XIAOFEI

ONE day in April 2007， a representative from the China Marrow Donor Program （CMDP） telephoned Li Li， a judge at the Peoples Court of Fangshan District in Beijing. “A little girl from Shanghai has a rare form of leukemia. We have found you to be a suitable blood match. Would you like to help her live？” Asked the representative. At first stunned， Li Li soon realized this was an opportunity to make a difference.

The Data Bank of Chinese Hematopoietic Stem Cell Donors， also known as the CMDP， is a non-profit organization under the umbrella of the Red Cross Society of China. Its mission is to regulate and administer hematopoietic stem cell （HSC） donor recruitment， Human Leukocyte Antigen （HLA） typing and bone marrow transplants in China.

Li Li had wanted to help leukemia patients from an early age. She was originally motivated by the tragic death of her cousin from leukemia at only 12 years old. Her aunt was heartbroken and mourned the loss of her child for many years. “I still remember her tears，” Li Li said.

Li Li recalls that after graduating from university she read on the Internet that leukemia could be cured by transplanting hematopoietic stem cells （HSC）. “When I read that， my first feeling was that God had given me an extraordinary opportunity.”

She subsequently decided to register as a volunteer donor with CMDP. She gave blood samples to CMDP in 2002.

It was five years before CMDP would find a match for Li Lis sample. When she received the call about the Shanghai girl in 2007， she was in preparations for her wedding.

She got married， and soon after donated bone marrow –without telling her parents， to spare them worry about the pro- cedure. The little girl， Sangsang， soon recovered.

“I felt a sense of achievement after donating. A dying girl can now live thanks to my small blood donation – my childhood dream has come true，” Li Li said.

Unfortunately， Sangsangs leukemia resurfaced in March 2009. This time， Li Li had turned 30 and was planning to have a child. The marrow donation would mean delaying pregnancy by two years. Li Lis husband voiced concern about possible complications of a later childbirth given his wifes age， but finally accepted her choice to donate bone marrow a second time round.

“Sangsang is 18 years old. A beautiful life is unfurling before her，” Li Li told her family when explaining her decision.

But complications arose.

Sangsangs leukemia hit back with a vengeance. She ended up losing her battle， much to the grief of her family. A young life was taken by a terrible disease.

For her part， Li Li says she doesnt have any regrets about helping； she had done her utmost to save Sangsangs life. Needless to say， Li Li is still registered as a donor with CMDP.