(Translators notes: Zhao Xin is a 32-year-old Falun Dafa practitioner in Beijing. She was a lecturer at Beijing University of Industry and Commerce. On the evening of June 19, 2000, she went to a public park in Beijing to practice Falun Gong, where she was arrested and taken into police custody. Several days later, the police rushed her to the emergency room of a local hospital. A number of her vertebrae were fractured, causing her to become totally paralyzed. Her family has been presented with the expensive bill for her emergency treatment. The following is an update on her current condition).
At the present time, Zhao Xin is unable to move any part of her body below the shoulders. It is very difficult for her to speak, and she is in constant pain. The external injury she suffered on her left eye has not healed. Her left eyeball looks clouded, leaving her unable to see anything with that eye. Some nights she cannot fall asleep at all. She is suffering from frequent infections, which bring on high fever. Sometimes her body temperature rises above 104 degrees. The good news is that her mind continues to remain very clear.
Since her injuries occurred in June, she has been forced to rely upon IVs to sustain her life. Currently, both of her arms are covered with puncture wounds made by the IV needles. In addition, because of the length of treatment, the blood vessel walls of her arms have collapsed, and the nurses can no longer locate healthy veins in which to stick the needles. Several times the hospital staff wanted to utilize the veins underneath her collarbone by cutting them open and sticking the IVs directly in there. Zhao Xin and her family did not feel comfortable with that and declined the procedure.
All through her trials and tribulations, Zhao Xin continues to believe in Falun Dafa wholeheartedly and does not regret the price she has paid for being a Dafa practitioner. Even though she suffers so much pain everyday, Zhao Xin still considers herself a practitioner and behaves as such. She worked hard to get rid of her dependence on the ventilator, bottled oxygen, and the machine that removes built-up phlegm. A while back, the doctors slowly took her off the ventilator and the bottled oxygen supply, and now she can breathe completely on her own. Today she again requested that the tube that has been inserted into her lungs, to help her breathe, be removed. She also has tried her best to lessen the burden upon her family members caring for her. She has expressed her desire, many times, to leave the hospital. She repeatedly asked people to help her sit up so she could practice the Falun Gong exercises (even though it is not realistic at this time). Every step she has taken along the way has been a struggle between life and death, but she has made it through with a great deal of courage and determination. Each practitioner who went to visit her was moved and encouraged by her actions.
Because her high medical expenses have not been settled, the hospital has stopped giving her any treatment that is expensive or considered a special medication. They will only give her basic care and use common and inexpensive medications now.
August 8, 2000
