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Poor brothers facing fatal illness praised for donating bodies
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TWO brothers with an incurable wasting disease were warmly praised after it was reported they had decided to donate their bodies to help others even as their parents in a rural area of central Hubei Province was mired in debt and health problems of their own.
The brothers have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, which causes patients’ muscles to weaken until they can no longer walk, use their hands, chew, swallow, speak or, ultimately, breathe. Four out of 100,000 people will develop the fatal, motor neuron disease.
“We should support their thoughts. Many warm-hearted people have helped care for the family during these years. The children wanted to give something back to society and we can understand it,” said their father, Song Quanlu.
On October 5, the younger brother, Song Cunjun, 30, died at a hospital and his corneas and cadaver were donated. The parents said they were gratified to know that others would regain sight due to their sons’ donations, Xinhua News Agency reported today.
The older brother, Song Cunhua, 34, is still alive.
The brothers, who were diagnosed with ALS when they were young, persuaded their parents in September to accept the idea of donating their bodies and sign their names to the agreement.
The Song family of Dongwanggang Village in Xiangyang City has been living in poverty for a long time. The parents, in their 60s, took extra jobs, used all of their savings and borrowed 100,000 yuan (US$16,350) to treat their sons. The parents’ health also has suffered.
The mother, Liu Kailian, who was dedicated to caring for her sons, has had problems with fluid in her lungs. Song Quanlu farmed and also took part-time jobs to support the family. His feet were injured in June 2012 and the treatment cost 20,000 yuan.
After Song Cunjun’s death, the couple’s only concern was who would take care of their other son should he outlive them.
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