Premature baby receives treatment after a 2,700-km life-saving transfer
After a 35-hour transfer, a premature baby from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, who suffered from respiratory failure due to heart disease, safely arrived at a hospital in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on Thursday night and was immediately rushed to the intensive care unit for treatment, according to media reports.
The baby, born in Pishan county, Hotan in July, was diagnosed with several illnesses, with the most severe being congenital heart disease. On Wednesday morning, the baby began to have persistent high fever and respiratory failure, putting his life at risk. After discussing with the hospital, his parents decided to seek treatment at West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, which is famous for its pediatric care.
Considering the infant's condition, it could not be safe to take a plane or high-speed train, so the transfer was performed by an ambulance.
Many media outlets did live coverage of the 2,700-kilometer life-saving journey, with more than 6 million netizens following the situation online. Many people were concerned about the baby's condition, sending wishes and donations. So far, over 97,000 people have donated 2 million yuan ($280,866).
When the ambulance finally arrived at West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, people at the scene erupted in applause.
Currently, the baby is receiving further treatment at the hospital.