On July 22, during the peak of the Great Heat (one of the 24 solar terms), the sun blazed, and the earth flourished with life. Amidst this vibrant summer scene, Li Yuan, a 2024 graduate of Shanghai DianJi University (SDJU), completed a life-changing act of love in the blood cell collection room at Changhai Hospital. Li successfully donated hematopoietic stem cells, offering a leukemia patient the hope of a second chance at life. He became the first-ever SDJU stem cell donor and the 644th in Shanghai. Through this selfless act, Li not only exemplified the love and responsibility of SDJU students but also gave himself a meaningful and unique graduation gift.
Li Yuan, who graduated in June this year, secured a position at the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of Chinese Academy of Sciences, contributing his expertise to China’s aerospace industry. As a student of Intelligent Manufacturing Engineering at SDJU School of Mechanical Engineering, Li first learned about stem cell donation during a blood stem cell awareness event organized by the university two years ago. Upon discovering that donating stem cells could save the lives of patients with blood disorders, he voluntarily registered as a potential donor. In April this year, Li received a call from the Shanghai Red Cross informing him that he was a match for a patient suffering from a severe blood disorder. The staff asked if he was willing to donate his stem cells. Knowing that the chance of finding a match between unrelated individuals is as rare as one in 100,000 or even one in a million, Li understood the magnitude of this miracle of life and instantly responded, “I’m ready!”
Before the donation, Li underwent several key steps, including initial matching, high-resolution typing tests with the patient, and a pre-donation medical examination. Any complication at any stage could have ended this life relay. After more than five hours of collection, 260ml of stem cell suspension was successfully extracted from his body. This life-giving seed was then sent to the patient’s transplant hospital, where it would offer the patient a new chance at life.
Liu Guangwen, Vice President of Red Cross Society of China Shanghai Branch, expressed profound respect and praise for Li Yuan’s selfless act of donating stem cells. She also extended gratitude to our university for its long-standing support of stem cell donation efforts. Our university has made significant contributions to spreading scientific knowledge about stem cells, raising awareness, and increasing public interest in stem cell donation. Zhu Hongchun, Deputy Secretary of CPC SDJU Committee, highly commended Li Yuan’s compassionate act, noting that it reflects the benevolence and sense of duty of SDJU students. Through his actions, Li exemplified the Red Cross spirit of humanity, fraternity, and dedication. His actions also demonstrated SDJU’s success in fostering patriotism and responsibility among its students, in line with its mission of holistic education.
Under the leadership of CPC SDJU Committee, and with guidance from Red Cross Society of China Shanghai Branch, Red Cross Society of China Shanghai Pudong New Area Branch, SDJU has maintained its commitment to the principle of “people first, life first”. For three consecutive years, our university has organized stem cell donor registration drives, with 664 faculty members and students successfully added to the donor registry. SDJU was recognized as an “Advanced Unit in Recruiting Stem Cell Donors,” spreading positive energy on campus and fostering a strong culture of social responsibility among its students.
