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"How can the yardstick for judging the value of life depend only on the length of time it lasts? It is more necessary to deeply explore and attach importance to the quality and depth of life." These are the sonorous and powerful last words of Mr. Lou Tao, an outstanding female doctor of Peking University in mainland China, when he was nearing the end of his life.
Although her life has only lasted for 29 years, she has perfectly interpreted this wise saying with her lofty spiritual realm and perseverance and enthusiasm for knowledge.
Born in an ordinary family, Lou Tao has shown outstanding talent since he was a child, and has won the love of his parents and teachers. She is diligent and studious, open-minded and cheerful, not only has outstanding academic achievements during her time in school, but also actively participates in various public welfare activities, and has served as a volunteer for the Beijing Olympic Games.
In 2015, Lou Tao was admitted to Peking University to study for a Ph.D. in both the written examination and the interview, majoring in ancient Egyptian history, which is her beloved, and the future is full of hope.
However, just as she was about to climb the peak of her life, a sudden disaster quietly struck and completely reversed the direction of her fate. In the face of the ruthless devastation of the disease, Lou Tao did not choose to retreat, but worked hard to explore the true meaning of life and fully pursue self-worth.
Let us follow her short but brilliant life footprints to appreciate her persistent pursuit of knowledge and endless love for life.
Interlude: Perseverance and enthusiasm for learning, continuing the love of ancient history
Although his body is no longer able to move freely, Lou Tao's thirst for knowledge and love for ancient history never stops. With her firm faith and tenacious perseverance, she endured extreme physical discomfort and asked her parents to play audio books for her.
What haunts her every day is her beloved ancient words and distant epics. Day after day, accompanied by books, she actually "read" more than 60 classic works on ancient civilizations by hearing alone! Her pious pursuit of knowledge made Lou Tao's inner world still colorful and full of vitality.
He was paralyzed and on a ventilator to stay alive
However, fate dealt a heavy blow to Lou Tao. In 2016, she was lying quietly on the hospital bed, her eyes were empty, her limbs were weak to move, and even the most basic daily life required careful care from her parents.
In just a few months, Lou Tao's condition has deteriorated rapidly to the point where he has difficulty breathing and needs to rely on a ventilator to maintain his fragile life. As a person suffering from ALS, the pain of death she faced was undoubtedly the heaviest suffering she and her family had ever experienced.
Many netizens actively launched assistance actions to convey love and care!
When we saw such a bad luck for this once high-profile female doctor from Peking University, the students and enthusiastic people were deeply shocked and enthusiastically held online aid and donation activities to lend a helping hand, hoping to bring a chance to rebirth to this seriously ill patient.
Whenever she received a donation, no matter how much it was, Lou's mother would sincerely express her gratitude and be deeply moved by the kindness of these strangers.
On her deathbed, she chose to donate her body to help the development of medicine!
Facing the approach of death, Lou Tao always maintained a calm and dignified face. She left a last wish on her computer through her eye tracker: "I look forward to leaving this world in a dignified way, and I hope to donate my head to the medical community to help them overcome this problem...... I implore that my wishes be respected, and that other useful organs may be selflessly donated if they can help others to continue their lives. This talented woman interprets the true meaning and value of life with practical actions.
Interlude: "Other people's children" - a bright future
Before the disease invaded, Lou Tao was undoubtedly "someone else's child" in everyone's hearts. She was born in an ordinary but affectionate family, she was well-behaved, sensible, lively and lovely since she was a child, and was deeply loved by her parents and teachers.
Whether it is in daily life or academics, Lou Tao has never disappointed his family and teachers. She is hardworking, academically excelling, and has received many honors and awards every semester.
In 2004, Lou Tao was successfully admitted to Enshi High School, a key middle school in Hubei Province, to continue his studies. In those three years, she redoubled her efforts and achieved remarkable results. In 2007, she was admitted to the preparatory class of the History Department of Minzu University of China with excellent grades.
At the undergraduate level, Lou Tao's comprehensive performance has always ranked among the top three in the department, and he is keen to participate in various volunteer activities, and served as a volunteer for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
In 2015, Lou Tao was admitted to Peking University to study for a doctorate in both the written examination and the interview, majoring in the field of ancient Egyptian history, which she loves.
In the highest institutions of the country, she undoubtedly found a vast world, and was able to display her unique talents, which can be described as a bright future! However, fate seemed to play tricks, and dealt her a heavy blow in the golden age of her life.
One day, when Lou Tao was at home with his mother, he suddenly felt that his right foot was unusually weak, but he didn't pay attention to it. There is still no cure for this rare motor neuron disease, and patients will gradually lose control of their bodies, and eventually they will not even be able to breathe on their own, so they can only wait for the end of their lives.
This cruel fact is undoubtedly a fatal blow to Lou Tao. She decisively ended her relationship with her boyfriend and refused to be visited by her friends. Faced with this ruthless reality, Lou Tao did not hesitate to make a difficult choice - to part ways with her boyfriend who has been with him for many years. Although they once had a bright future, at this moment, she had no choice but to cut off this emotion with her own hands and endure endless pain alone.
In addition to this, she politely declined all requests from friends to visit. Lou Tao hopes that in the hearts of his relatives and friends, he will always retain his lively and cheerful and energetic self, rather than a patient who needs the sympathy of others.
The condition is getting worse and the ability to move is gradually lost. The road to treatment was long and arduous, and Lou Tao had to endure extreme physical and mental torture. At first, she only felt weakness in her limbs, but as her condition worsened, her muscles began to atrophy. Soon after, she was unable to complete the most basic daily activities on her own, including eating and living, and relied on her parents for round-the-clock support and care.
This former female doctor of Peking University has now become a burden to her family, which has had a great impact on her spirit. She began several suicide attempts, each of which broke her parents' hearts. Seeing their daughter getting haggard day by day, they were helpless and helpless.
Although on her deathbed, Lou Tao solemnly expressed her wish to donate organs to her parents, unfortunately, the expert team in charge of organ donation at Wuhan Union Medical College Hospital said that due to the erosion of long-term diseases, her organs could no longer meet the criteria for donation.
Faced with a helpless tragedy, the unbearable pain was like a sharp sword, ruthlessly cutting open the hearts of Lou Tao's parents, leaving only deep regret and despair, filling his heart. When they see their daughter's pious wish that they longed to fulfill but failed to fulfill, their inner world is as if it has been swallowed up, and it is desolate.
Yet, despite the indescribable weight of their hearts, they remained strong in the face of this harsh reality. They strictly followed Lou Tao's last wishes, resolutely refused to hold any form of mourning ceremony, and at the same time politely refused condolences from all relatives and friends.
Eventually, Lou Tao's body was sent to the crematorium for cremation, and his ashes drifted away to the depths of the distant river, where they soared freely between heaven and earth.
Although her daughter's wish for organ donation was not realized, Lou's mother made a vow that she would firmly inherit her daughter's unfinished will and selflessly donate her organs in the future, so as to realize her long-cherished wish and continue her endless love for life.
"Although I can't get my beloved daughter to donate her organs, I will firmly take over her will and selflessly donate my organs in the future to fulfill her unfulfilled wish. Lou's mother said affectionately, with a tough expression on her face. Whenever she recalls her daughter's deathbed entrustment, tears welled up in her eyes. Lou Tao has always been so strong and brave, until the last moment of his life, he still does not forget to care about others and think about how to contribute to the society.
Lou's mother was deeply affected by her daughter's selfless spirit, and made up her mind to continue her last wish to donate her organs so that they could be reborn in other people's bodies and have the possibility of continuing their lives. Only in this way can she slightly alleviate the grief caused by her daughter's death and feel that she is still alive in this world.
Indeed, the value of life lies not only in the individual itself, but also in the contribution and influence it has on others. Lou Tao's short life has shone brightly because of love, and her spirit will surely be immortalized in history through organ donation and passed on in the lives of more people. This devotion to life is destined to become an eternal light that illuminates others.