The heartwarming story of four sisters who shaved their heads and donated skin to save their little nephew and niece who were badly burned in a fire has gone viral on mainland social media.
A mother, from Shandong province in eastern China, was distraught when her six-year-old daughter, nicknamed Keke, and four-year-old son, Dandan, were injured when a fire ripped through their home on February 20.
The mother, Min, is the third of five daughters, and her four sisters insisted on donating some of their skin to help her children, Chao News reported.
The cause of the fire, which happened at about 4am, is not clear, but Min believes it broke out after she switched on an air conditioning unit where the children were sleeping.
Despite desperate attempts at rescue by Min and her husband, both children were badly injured and left unconscious.
The children remained in a coma for five days and had suffered severe injuries, including respiratory burns, respiratory failure, carbon monoxide poisoning, and multiple organ failure.
Keke and Dandan were transferred to a hospital in Beijing for specialist treatment, where the doctor told their parents that skin-grafting operations would be needed because of their extensive burns.
As soon as the couple told their family, they began having medical tests hoping to become skin donors. The results showed that Min and her four sisters were compatible donors.
“All five of us shaved our heads. I’d never imagined that one day I would be shaving my head, but I would do anything to save the children,” one of Min’s sisters told Chao News.
The siblings underwent skin donation surgery, which went smoothly apart from some unpleasant side-effects, such as fever and vomiting.
The video shows the five bald-headed sisters sitting together in bed.
On March 3, Keke, who had regained consciousness, successfully underwent a skin-grafting operation. Dandan was still unconscious.
The family’s story has touched many people on mainland social media.
“The five most beautiful golden flowers in the world,” said one online observer.
“Wonder women,” said another.
“The most lovely aunts in China in 2024,” said a third person, while a fourth said: “Great love is selfless.”
Source: scmp.com
