53-year-old becomes Hubei’s oldest unrelated stem cell donor
2025-12-02 20:12:08
By Hu Yikai.
Mr. Xue, 53, became the oldest unrelated stem cell donor in Hubei Province after donating 265 milliliters of hematopoietic stem cells at a hospital in Yichang on December 1.
His donation, the 21,640th nationwide, 765th in Hubei Province, and 86th in Yichang, has offered a lifeline to a leukemia patient in northern China.
Mr. Xue joined the China Marrow Donor Program years ago and did not hesitate when notified of a successful match in early October. "I've been a regular blood donor for years — giving blood is about saving lives," he said. "When I learned I was a match, there was no hesitation." After the procedure, the stem cell suspension was carefully packaged and rushed by a dedicated courier to the recipient's city.
Since his first blood donation, Mr. Xue has given blood 197 times, totaling 44,500 milliliters — nearly 10 times the volume of an average adult's entire bloodstream.
"Being in my 50s and still able to help someone else — that’s one of the most meaningful things in life," he said. "Blood can regenerate, but a life cannot. Knowing that my blood may now be sustaining someone else is a deeply warm feeling."
Zhou Chongyu, Xue Jinping, and Zhang Sheng also contributed to this story.
Mr. Xue, 53, became the oldest unrelated stem cell donor in Hubei Province after donating 265 milliliters of hematopoietic stem cells at a hospital in Yichang on December 1.
His donation, the 21,640th nationwide, 765th in Hubei Province, and 86th in Yichang, has offered a lifeline to a leukemia patient in northern China.
Mr. Xue is donating hematopoietic stem cells. Photo by Xue Jinping.
Mr. Xue joined the China Marrow Donor Program years ago and did not hesitate when notified of a successful match in early October. "I've been a regular blood donor for years — giving blood is about saving lives," he said. "When I learned I was a match, there was no hesitation." After the procedure, the stem cell suspension was carefully packaged and rushed by a dedicated courier to the recipient's city.
Mr. Xue receives his stem cell donation certificate. Photo by Xue Jinping.
Since his first blood donation, Mr. Xue has given blood 197 times, totaling 44,500 milliliters — nearly 10 times the volume of an average adult's entire bloodstream.
"Being in my 50s and still able to help someone else — that’s one of the most meaningful things in life," he said. "Blood can regenerate, but a life cannot. Knowing that my blood may now be sustaining someone else is a deeply warm feeling."
Zhou Chongyu, Xue Jinping, and Zhang Sheng also contributed to this story.
