In Loving Memory of Wang Zhen Zhen

Ron was visiting a hospital in China in 2002, looking for a hospital capable of handling an open-heart team of doctors, nurses and medical personnel from the U.S.    The director of the hospital said they were not large enough or had the equipment that would be needed for such a mission.   But, he said he had a little girl there with a heart problem that they were unable to correct.   He asked Ron if he want to see her. She was in a little bed near the nurses' station, and they were looking after her.   Her mother brought her into the hospital by taxi and then fled as soon as she checked her daughter into the hospital.  They tried to find the mother and at one time thought they had, but the woman denied that she was the child's mother.

Ron took the little girl into his lap, and she wet all over him.   He has always remembered that first meeting with her!   The hospital released her into Ron's custody.   He had her taken to a large hospital in Wuhan.    The picture below with Ron and Luke, the director of the North Canton Christian Care Center was taken in 2005.  

They did some testing and said they could not repair her heart problem.    When the team of doctors from the U.S. arrived for the medical mission, John Morgan, the children's cardiologist from Chattanooga, TN, evaluated her condition and said it was impossible to correct.   Some congenital heart problems are inoperable, and sadly, he said hers was.  

 The first time I saw Wang Zhen Zhen, she was one of the first five children that came to our first orphanage in China, the North Canton Christian Care Center, in Longhui, China.   She was four at that time.   She is in the pink shirt in the next two pictures. We were in Longhui for a general medical mission.  This was my first visit to China.  I was excited to see our first children at this care center that was just opening.    

During the years this orphanage was under China Mission's control, King was brought to this care center by his uncle.   King came to the U.S. and lived with us for about 19 months to have skin grafts due to a house fire.   Many of my followers know King.    King finish high school there and later became the director of the Neil Taylor Christian Care Center in Rongshui, China for a few years.   He took care of Wang Zhen Zhen while he was the director.  (We continue to be in touch with King regularly).  

The NCCC orphanage closed about 10 years after we opened it.   The buildings were originally a school.   It had been abandoned and not in use at the time we renovated them for our first orphanage.   Over the years the cost to keep it livable became too expensive.   Many of the kids were then in High School and had to live at the school which was too far away to travel to every day.   The decision was made to close it.   The government through intense negotiations with Ron, refunded China Mission $60,000 U.S. dollars, which were the funds that started the orphanage in Tanjay, Negroes Oriental, known now as Philippine Mission.  

Wang Zhen Zhen was moved to another orphanage, but later she requested to go to the Neil Taylor Christian Care Center in Rongshui (where King was also living).    She continued to live there until her death two days ago.   At some point in time, whether before Ron met her or afterwards, she had a stroke that affected her left arm.   She could not use the arm; it hung limp at her side.    I think it also affected her mind, but the school allowed her to attend classes for several years.    She rode to school on the back of a student's motorbike.  A few years ago, a stint was put in that gave her a little more time.   

When we visited, and other visitors as well, she wanted all of the attention.   

She would push children away from us if they were trying to wedge in to get a hug.   She had blue fingers and blue lips, which are sure indications of heart problems with a lack of blood flowing to other parts of her body.  

Here are pictures of her with sponsors/supporters Sam (American Airlines pilot), Dave Halligan, and Ronald and Gigi Brown.

Everyone felt sorry for her.   No one knew how long she would live.  She soon realized that she was the center of everyone's attention.   Later on, I think everyone quit spoiling her, but she was well cared for all of her life.   Her life was not easy, and it was often sad for everyone who knew her, because we knew the time would come when her heart could no longer hold on.    

We loved visiting the happy children but Wang Zhen Zhen was alway right beside us in every picture.   She is at the top center of this photo, probably our last visit the Neil Taylor Christian Care Center.

From time to time, she would have heart pain and the workers would take her to the hospital.   Not much could be done for her but maybe they gave her pain medication that made her more comfortable.

Here is the report we received this morning about her death.  

I am sorry to have to inform you that Wang Zhen Zhen passed away at midnight after a 13 hour and 40 minute surgery (cost for us was over $20,000). Sister Song (NTCC care center director) said the surgery started at 7:50 am on the 14th and they finished up at about 8:23 pm and Sister Song was sent back to her hotel because the doctors thought the surgery was successful. After she returned to her hotel at about 9:30 pm, the hospital called and told her Zhen Zhen’s situation had changed.  One person from the Guangzho church came and met her at the hospital. The doctors said Zhen Zhen’s blood pressure suddenly dropped and they could try to save her, but it might be of little use. One of the doctors said Zhen Zhen might not survive the night even if they tried to intubate her. That was at around 11 PM. Zhen Zhen stopped breathing right around midnight. The plan is to have her cremated in Guangzho and wait for the issue of her death certificate. They may have a memorial service for Zhen Zhen at the funeral home if there is a room available.

Here is her picture made in January, 2023. She must be about 22 years old.  This is about the longest a congenital child can live with a severe congenital heart condition.   While we were over the China Mission work, I think we saved about 500 children who were born with various types of heart problems.    The foundation that took over China Mission, continues to perform some heart surgeries in China.  

Some pictures received right before her surgery:  

I hope to see her in heaven and give her another hug.   

She will have a perfect body and life for eternity!