Medical Fund for Needy Chinese Children

Born in 2007, Xing has suffered from a tumor in her left eye since she was born. Because she was born in a rural region of Sichuan province, the local hospital was not capable of treating her. Her family of five lives on her father’s income from work at various construction sites. Despite their meager income, Xing’s father has continued to seek ways for his daughter to get treatment for her condition. However, the limited medical resources available in her town and alternative options proving extremely expensive, the family couldn’t obtain any surgical options and as a result Xing’s tumor continued to grow.

As Xing grew older, the growing tumor caused her skull to deform. In 2013, her doctor advised that surgery to remove the tumor was essential or it would compress her cranial nerve, causing life-threatening issues. In August 2013, Xing was admitted to Shanghai No. 9 People’s Hospital. Thanks to donations from volunteers, nonprofit organizations in China and A Life A Time Foundation, Xing underwent her first surgery in October to remove the tumor.

Because the size of the tumor had already damaged her orbital bone, Xing was unable to open her left eye. Another surgery and continued treatments were needed to repair her eyelid. In January 2014, Xing had her second surgery, and she was able to open her left eye two months following the surgery.

Xing’s condition requires an annual checkup in case of reoccurrence of the tumor and two more surgeries will be needed to clean up some remaining fibromas under her eye and make cosmetic repairs to lift her left eye and reshape some deformities to her skull.

In August this year, six years after her first surgery, Xing underwent a third surgery after signs that the tumor was coming back. The surgery was successful. Xing will continue to be monitored annually to ensure the tumor does not return and will receive the recommended cosmetic repairs after she turns 18 and is fully grown.