A Chinese doctor who dedicated his life to the cause in Mozambique

Editor’s note: In October 2014, Dr. Xu Xun from People’s Hospital of Jiangyou, Sichuan Province of Southwest China, embarked to Mozambique, an east African country tens of thousand miles away. Due to long-time overwork, Dr. Xu was struck down by heart attack and then passed away at his early age of 50 while he was performing medical duties on January 24, 2015. For his outstanding contribution, Dr. Xu was honored as “The Most Extraordinary Foreign Aid Doctor”. People’s Daily published the extracts from the letter by Dr. Xu’s daughter addressed to her father in heaven, to honor Dr. Xu and express our grievousness.

Dr. Xu Xun carries out a surgery with his foreign counterpart. (Photo provided by Xu Weixin)

"Patients in heaven will suffer no pain!" - A daughter’s letter to her deceased dad

"My dear daughter, daddy will go to Mozambique in Africa to treat patients." After graduating from college, I went to Shanghai to make a living alone, and one day received such a call from my father at my residence.

"Dad, your daughter is so proud of you that you can represent China to save the lives of fellow Africans, you are the greatest dad!" Africa was plagued by the prevalence of Ebola virus then AIDS, yellow fever and so forth are also high-incidence, and high-risk diseases. I was also rather upset and worried. However, the African people need you, and therefore the whole family support you without any hesitation.

On October 31, 2014, when you set foot on Africa, an unfamiliar continent for you, your two-year foreign aid life began. Local climate is hot, with harsh environment and limited resources. The patients are helpless and thirst for help. You worked for Maputo Central Hospital in its capital city. As the scarcest thoracic surgeon, you not only needed to treat the patients with thoracic surgery. Other related departments like general surgery, and pediatric surgery also looked for your help. Because of your superb medical skill, you successfully completed many high-skilled surgeries. The director of thoracic surgery at the hospital thumbed up towards you after one surgery: "Dr. Xu, you can straighten the spine. Stand up to be a proud Chinese!"

Mozambique's official language is Portuguese. There are doctors from six or seven countries in your department. Since no professional interpreters were available at work, you had to learn Portuguese with the help of reference books. To be a qualified Portuguese user in such a short time is a great challenge for a 50-year-old adult. To overcome the difficulties, you often learned until midnight and caught every opportunity to use it, even in the Wechat group of our families.

"My dear daughter, I am making progress every day, I can communicate with my friend in Portuguese!" "My daughter, now is 1:00 am in Maputo, I'm still learning, my mind is filled with Portuguese words, I feel it is so hard!”

"My daughter, I dreamed all Portuguese words, until total exhaustion!”

I was inspired by your never-give-up spirit, but I really tugged at my heartstrings.

Dr. Xu and his colleagues pose for a picture after the surgery finished. (Photo provided by Xu Weixin)

Our family was connected by Wechat, with you were in Africa, Mama in Sichuan and I in Shanghai. Though we were poled apart, your texts and pictures always warmed me. With you and your love, I feel strongly supportive as strong as a mountain and the sky is sunshine forever.

"Today, I treated a little girl suffered with empyema. Her breathing and heartbeat was nearly stopped, I am so excited and have a sense of accomplishment for saving her life". The picture you sent to me shows that you are wearing loving smiles though your eyes are bloodshot.

"I went to the beach today. I rushed into the sea and helped a 2 years old little baby girl who was swept away by the waves. The whole families are really grateful for that. Your dad’s great, isn’t he? Everyone is bristling thumb to you, with familiar smile and whole body wet.

No matter at or out of the operating table, you were always ready to offer help. It is derived from a benevolent heart.

Even the heaven was jealous of your kindness and talent. Due to the prolonged pressure of overwork and cruel environment, you suffered from an acute myocardial infarction when you were performing medical tasks on January 25, 2015 and left me forever.

My world darkened since then.

My tears shed in countless nights, dry and wet, again and again. I cannot believe such an optimistic and strong man who saved countless lives may suddenly sacrifice himself and contribute the whole life to your beloved land of Africa.

We went to Mozambique to bring you home. Minister of Health of Mozambique said, "Dr. Xu Xun did not take long to be here, but many of his colleagues and hospital patients know him. He treated many patients and made outstanding contributions to the friendship between Africa and China." At the funeral, I saw you wearing a white lab coat, covered with small quilt, eyes closed, silent and kind. Suddenly, "white angel" is the single phrase that occupied my mind, lingering for a long time.

Doctors are life-saving angels, and this time, you finally turned into an angel, ascending to heaven slowly.

"Patients in heaven will suffer no pain, for you will have a white angel." I told myself. I know in my heart that dad, you are the most extraordinary foreign aid doctor!

Your daughter Xu Weixin

March 10, 2015