Chinese father donates skin to save severely burned daughter

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A father from central China's Henan Province has drawn public attention for repeatedly donating his skin to his severely burned daughter since he couldn't afford the expensive price of skin grafts needed for her surgery.

The 17-year-old girl, named Li Chenxi, who lost 80 percent of her skin due to a gas explosion at home on October 3, was in critical condition and had to undergo skin grafting surgery to survive.

Li Chenxi's 80 percent of skin was burned during a gas explosion. /Photo via Weibo

Li's father, Li Zhifeng, was told by the hospital he must pay 300,000 yuan (43,431 U.S. dollars) to buy the skin needed for the emergency transplant surgery. However, unable to afford the expensive medical cost, Li decided to donate his own skin to save his daughter.

Zheng Guohong, Li's mother, said that they had spent over 1.6 million yuan to pay for the medical treatment by mortgaging their house and borrowing money from relatives. Fortunately, thanks to the money donated by the public, hope was restored once again.

Li's mother was taking care of her husband. /Screenshot from Pear Video

Up until now, they still need around 700,000 yuan for further treatment.

Zheng said her husband had donated his scalps for six or seven times, and he would wait for the skin to grow back before donating it again.

Li's father first donated the skin of his left leg and later donated skin from his left arm for his daughter's surgery. Covered by the gauze bandage, his wound was deep purple after undergoing surgery.

Li's father said he would do whatever it needs to save his daughter - no matter how painful it is. /Screenshot from China News Video

"I could take the physical pain, but I'm heartbroken for my daughter. I hope she could get better soon," said Li's father.

"My daughter's life has just started, and I would do whatever I could to save her – no matter how painful it is," Li's father told China News Service.

However, his daughter remained unaware of what her father had done for her because her parents didn't want her to be worried. Li's father asked his wife to tell their daughter that he had been away to another city to work while he actually underwent surgery in the same hospital.

Li's father holds back his tears as his daughter talks to him through the phone. /Screenshot from Pear Video

According to the doctor, Li has undergone over 17 surgeries, and she was described as a girl with a strong will since she would even comfort her parents not to worry about her.

The doctor said Li was recovering now and she would be in good health if the next surgery goes on smoothly.

Skin grafting is a type of surgery that involves skin transplantation to treat burns, trauma or other kinds of skin loss. Around the world, the cost of skin grafting surgery is relatively high; thus, for poverty-stricken family, it would be a disaster to face such an operation.