Even though she works as an administrative staff in a hospital, she has the incredible power to save a person’s life.
When she was 19 years old, Chen Ching-Chiao (曾瀞巧), a member of the administrative staff of Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, participated in a bone marrow registry drive during a school sports event. She said that, by donating just a small amount of blood for the registry, a person could offer a glimmer of hope to someone in need. She rolled up her sleeves without hesitation. Little did she realise that, over a decade later, she would be a successful match and save a life. In fact, she was the only donor in all of Taiwan whose genes were a perfect match for the recipient.
Ching-Chiao said that, at the time, her only concern was fainting at the sight of the blood, which could jeopardize the donation. Fortunately, with the unwavering support and company of her family and volunteers, she overcame her fears and made the life-saving donation. While donating, she also offered prayers and good wishes for the recipient, hoping for a smooth recovery after the transplant.
Since her donation, Ching-Chiao has remained concerned about the recipient for six years. She described it as a rare and profound experience. In addition to her administrative role in the hospital, she found it astonishing that she could also be a lifesaver. Her efforts brought happiness to the recipient's entire family, a sentiment she deeply appreciated since she, too, is a person with a family and understands the importance of a complete and healthy home.
With tears of gratitude, Chung Chia-Ying (鍾佳穎) embraced Ching-Chiao. In June 2016, Chia-Ying was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia after experiencing recurring high fever, coughing, and teary eyes. Even though she had a full head of hair, the various discomforts and hair loss resulting from chemotherapy deeply saddened her. Faced with a life-threatening situation, she could only pray for her survival. Finally, in 2017, a successful donor match and transplant saved her.
Chia-Ying expressed her profound gratitude for the second chance at life she received. She knew she had a highly treatable form of cancer; her determination to keep living was unwavering. To her, recovery and rebirth were incredibly precious. Now she works part-time and studies in a clinic, providing care and support to those suffering from illnesses.
Chia-Ying's entire family accompanied her to meet her benefactor. Her mother left her job to care for her when she fell ill at the age of 14, while also looking after her younger brother and their ailing father. After years of strenuous caregiving, her mother's health also deteriorated; now she requires kidney dialysis while she awaits a transplant. Despite her condition, she made the effort to be present with her family to personally express her gratitude to the benefactor.
“At that time, we did nothing but cry every day. It wasn’t until the donor appeared that we felt our daughter finally had a chance!” Chia-Ying's mother choked back tears; she is deeply thankful for the donor’s compassion that gave her daughter a second chance at life. Their family in their darkest moments feared losing their daughter; then they saw a glimmer of hope. She also expressed gratitude to Tzu Chi and the compassionate individuals who lent a helping hand. With the support of all these people, their family could continue to be together. There were no words sufficient to express their gratitude, only the simple, heartfelt “thank you.”
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Story by Liu Zhen-zhen and Jiang Jia-Yu
