“Grandpa, Will I Survive?”

Jianbo has had a rough childhood.  He was born with a deformed heart and a missing ventricle.  His mother left because she couldn’t handle his illness, and his father works out of town, leaving Jianbo’s grandparents to raise him. 

Grandpa Bai recalls, “At five, Jianbo stopped growing.  He had poor digestion, couldn’t absorb nutrients, and only weighed 30 pounds.  Doctors said if he didn’t get surgery, his organs could get infected, leading to sudden death.”  

Jianbo shares, “It felt like there were needles piercing my heart or big invisible hands pressing on my chest.”

Jianbo wasn’t able to keep up with the other kids his age, so he was teased a lot.

“My classmate said I was as slow as a snail,” he recalls.  “My grandpa told me not to worry about it and to forgive him.”  

Ultimately, he had to drop out of school.  

“He didn’t get enough oxygen and was dizzy a lot.  His heart beat really fast.  His body trembled and he couldn't even hold his pen,” Grandpa Bai shares.  “Later, he couldn’t walk.  I had to carry him on my back.  It broke my heart.”

“I just stayed at home in bed,” adds Jianbo.  He then confesses, “And I started feeling bad about myself.”

Grandpa Bai cries, “Jianbo often asked me, 'Grandpa, do you think I’m going to survive?’” 

Grandma Bai remembers, “There were times it looked like he wouldn’t even make it a few more days.”

Grandma and Grandpa Bai could barely pay for Jianbo’s treatments, let-alone provide the surgery he needed.

“We only have $25 a month to make ends meet.  We just ate vegetables, and in order to save money for our grandson’s surgery, we picked up junk and sold it,” explains Grandpa Bai.

They couldn’t save enough, and Jianbo got worse.

“Jianbo started vomiting blood, and his eyes turned black.  This was a sign of heart failure,” Grandpa Bai says.  “If he didn’t get surgery, he would die.”

Then, a nurse told the Bais about Operation Blessing, and thanks to you, Jianbo got the surgery he needed.

“He’s so different now,” exclaims Grandpa Bai.  “He’s always happy.  He eats more and has gained weight, and he enjoys exercising.”

Grandma Bai adds, “I didn't expect such a big change after the surgery.  I’m truly grateful.  My grandson has come back to life.”

“I am completely cured, and I can do things I never even imagined before,”  Jianbo declares.  He then concludes, “Thank you to the donors at Operation Blessing.  Through you, I learned that God loves us very much, and you love me because of Jesus.  Thank you for bringing me happiness and joy and thank you for saving my life!”
 

Do you know that CBN partners can reach people around the world for Christ every day? We invite you to join us in ministry together as we provide financial support to those in need through our life-giving surgeries, food and clothing programs, humanitarian aid, and so much more! When you give today and become a CBN partner, you’ll help transform lives in the name of Jesus Christ! Join us now!