On Jun 23, Sophie – a teacher from New Zealand – suffered a severe heart attack and was in a coma for six days. By Jul 7, she desperately needed heart surgery but was faced with complications given her rare AB- blood type. Sophie’s family quickly moved mountains and oceans to get a donor for her, and fortunately, she was able to receive enough blood for all three of her operations.
The blood type that Sophie has is also known as “panda blood” and is extremely rare in China, with roughly 0.1 percent of Asia’s population having this blood type. In fact, of the eight different blood types in the world, positives are most common, while negatives are rarer.
Luckily, having AB- blood doesn’t mean you only receive blood from AB- donors, and there are various other types that are compatible. Nevertheless, Sophie’s family’s search took them well outside their friends in Beijing, and they looked as far as Heilongjiang Province and Xizang Province just to find someone bearing either the AB-, A-, B-, or O- blood type.
“I cried when I saw how many people read and shared,” Sophie says.
The ordeal certainly captured the sheer support and love within the capital’s expat community. Simply put, Beijing’s expat community is like a big family that you can always count on to have your back. Whether it be restaurant recommendations, travel tips, or a life-threatening illness, there’s no shortage of help, no matter how big or small the situation is.
Although Beijing is a foreign country for Sophie and her family, they were able to find solace and aid in its expat community. Frankly, moving to Beijing and being away from loved ones is, in no uncertain terms, an arduous task, however, there are always people who will be more than happy to help you thrive while you are here. All the anxiety of settling in a new place disappears – more or less – and your family back home can rest easy knowing that you’re in the loving hands of an international community that cares.
We’re glad that Sophie is feeling better and is on her way to a swift recovery. And for those of you that are planning on moving to Beijing, know that you are welcome, and the expat community can’t wait to welcome you into the family.
KEEP READING: Fun Blood Drive for the Whole Family! Yes, There is Such a Thing
Images: Unsplash, XueFei Liu, MyOASIS 北京明德医院
