More Than a Heart Surgery

8-year-old Yanhong has always been strong and independent.

“If I have a problem, I try to solve it, like if my schoolbag has a hole in it, I fix it myself,” she explains.

Then one winter her chest started hurting.   

“I saw her holding her chest and breathing heavy,” her dad recalls.  “The doctor at the village clinic said her pain was just from coughing hard.  He gave her some medicine, but she kept crying and holding her chest and saying her heart hurt.”

“It was like a needle pricking my heart,” recalls Yanhong.  “One day at school, I thought I was going to faint.  It was like a pair of big hands tearing my heart apart.”  

The Li’s took Yanhong to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with a hole in her heart.  And as it grew, Yanhong got worse.

Yanhong reveals, “I couldn’t walk a long way anymore because my heart ached so much.  I was short of breath, dizzy and nauseous.” 

Her father adds, “Her lips were purple, her face was pale, and her forehead was sweaty.  Her legs couldn’t even support her.”  

Mrs. Li says, “I always hugged her and told her not to be afraid.  But I could feel her heart beating really fast.”

Yanhong needed surgery, yet the Li’s are poor farmers and couldn’t afford it.  In search of help, Mr. Li went to a sacred tree that was said to be the home of a snake fairy.

“I said, ‘Snake Fairy, please make my daughter healthy,’” Mr. Li shares.  “But Yanhong didn’t recover.  The disease infected her lungs, to the point they stuck together.  The doctor warned us that if she didn’t get surgery right away, she could die.  But no one would lend us money.” 

Then a friend told the Li’s about Operation Blessing, and thanks to you, Yanhong got the surgery she needed.

“My daughter is so much better now,” says Mr. Li.

“My heart doesn't hurt anymore,” exclaims Yanhong.

“Yanhong is like a different person.  Her eyes are bright, and she smiles and says, ‘I'm not tired at all!’  We are all so happy she’s healthy,” declares Mrs. Li. 

“Operation Blessing told us there’s only one true God, and that’s Jesus,” adds Mr. Li. 

“They said if I have problems in the future, I can pray to God, and He’ll help me,” Yanhong shares.

“Thank you so much to the donors at Operation Blessing,” concludes Mr. Li.  “We will always remember your kindness!”

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!