--- title: The Light I Received from Strangers - Now I Want to Pass It On url: "https://www.yyhmedical.com/en/stories/severe-aplastic-anemia-hsct-five-year" type: Article inLanguage: en-US disease: Severe Aplastic Anemia treatment: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation datePublished: 2026-07-17 --- # The Light I Received from Strangers - Now I Want to Pass It On > After being diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia, he nearly gave up on treatment. The determination of his family, encouragement from fellow patients, and support from his medical team helped him choose hematopoietic stem cell transplantation - and five years later, he is back in the classroom he loves. Summary: Mr. Liu (pseudonym) was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) after abnormalities were found on a routine blood test. As supportive treatment became less effective and he needed transfusions more and more frequently, he lost confidence and at one point considered giving up treatment altogether. His family refused to give up, and the transplant experiences shared by several patients he had never met helped restore his hope. In 2021, he underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital. Although his recovery was complicated by viral infections, intestinal infection, and chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), his condition gradually stabilized with treatment and long-term follow-up from Dr. Su Li, Dr. Huixia Liu, and their teams. About a year after transplant, he returned to teaching. Now, five years later, he remains relapse-free and has no ongoing GVHD. He hopes to pass on the kindness that once helped him, encouraging other patients with blood disorders to keep moving forward through treatment.   ![10761a13-dd9c-48ff-a4e5-1cf25465401f.png](https://gaobo-byh-h5.oss-accelerate.aliyuncs.com/images/20260912/ac0cae86eee59f881ff011e85f4f79b5_20260912224824.png "ac0cae86eee59f881ff011e85f4f79b5_20260912224824.png")  Mr. Liu (pseudonym) had spent decades as a teacher and had always considered himself healthy. He rarely got sick, so he never imagined that a routine blood test before a physical therapy session would lead to an urgent referral to hematology - and a diagnosis of severe aplastic anemia (SAA). At first, he chose supportive treatment. But the disease progressed far more quickly than expected: the interval between transfusions shortened from about ten days, to one week, and eventually to just three days. Frequent trips between home and the hospital became part of his life. The teacher who had once stood confidently in front of a classroom soon found even basic daily activities exhausting. Just as he was losing hope, Mr. Liu met several fellow patients he had never known before. One was the father of a child who had had leukemia. Hearing that the child had returned to normal life five years after transplant gave Mr. Liu his first real sense of hope. Another younger patient told him that he had spent more than 20 relatively stable days in the transplant unit, easing Mr. Liu's fear of the procedure. An older man in the same ward also supported him with his optimism and encouragement. Mr. Liu often says, “I've been lucky. Somehow, I always meet kind people when things are at their hardest.” The light and hope these people offered at different points in his treatment helped him find direction again - and the courage to keep going. In June 2021, with the full support of his family, Mr. Liu underwent an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant at GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital. His underlying disease went into complete remission. About a year later, he returned to school and stepped back into the classroom he had missed so much. To mark five years since his transplant, Mr. Liu returned for a comprehensive follow-up evaluation, bringing his son with him so they could thank the medical teams at GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital and GoBroad Shanghai Liquan Hospital in person. He also has a message for other people living with blood disorders: seek treatment while your body is still strong enough, make decisions promptly with an experienced medical team, and do not let delay close off treatment options. He once drew strength from the kindness of strangers. Now he hopes to pass that kindness on - and become a source of light for someone else. ![6cf8126c-d82d-4819-a380-d4518cfbb343.png](https://gaobo-byh-h5.oss-accelerate.aliyuncs.com/images/20260912/39484e6ef5233329af978c13b470d0c8_20260912224841.png "39484e6ef5233329af978c13b470d0c8_20260912224841.png")  June 2026: Mr. Liu with Dr. Su Li **Q1: What symptoms did you have at first, and how were you eventually diagnosed with SAA?** A: In September 2020, I went to a county hospital for physical therapy. As part of the routine process, they did a complete blood count first. I felt perfectly fine after the blood draw and even went out for lunch as usual. But when I returned to the hospital that afternoon, the doctor looked very serious. He told me to sit down, avoid moving around, and arranged for me to be transferred urgently to the hematology department at the local central hospital. After a series of detailed tests, I was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia (SAA). I had a hard time accepting it at first. I had always been healthy and rarely got sick, and I knew almost nothing about blood disorders, so part of me kept hoping it could not be that serious. But the disease progressed quickly. While I was receiving supportive treatment locally, a transfusion initially lasted me about ten days. Then the interval shortened to a week, and eventually to only three days. My platelet count kept falling, my gums bled frequently, and I felt extremely weak. Everyday life became difficult, and I had to travel to the hospital several times a week for treatment. There were also a lot of discouraging conversations in the ward. Some patients felt that treatment would only prolong things while draining the family's finances. Hearing that repeatedly affected me. I became lost and hopeless. I had two children still in school, and at one point I thought it might be better to sell our property and leave the money for their education rather than spend all of our savings on treatment when I did not know what the outcome would be. I was ready to give up. But my family never wavered. They stayed by my side, encouraged me, and refused to give up on even the smallest chance. Their support helped me rebuild my confidence step by step and gave me the strength to keep going. **Q2: What was the turning point that helped you and your family decide to proceed with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation?** A: My family's refusal to give up helped me pull myself together and start actively looking into treatment options. Around that time, I met a fellow patient who had a huge influence on me. His son had been diagnosed with leukemia while still in primary school, and he told me how devastated he had felt at the time. But his son was already five years out from a hematopoietic stem cell transplant and had returned to a normal life. He told me that medicine had advanced tremendously, and that because supportive treatment was no longer doing much for me, transplant might offer a better chance of getting back to work and everyday life. Hearing that from someone who had lived through it with his own family gave me enormous encouragement. There was another younger patient who had already undergone an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant at GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital while I was still hesitating. He called me specifically to reassure me: “Uncle, I spent more than 20 days in the transplant unit and I was doing pretty well. It really wasn't as frightening as I had imagined.” Hearing that eased a lot of my fear. After many conversations, my family and I agreed that transplant was the path we wanted to take, and we came to GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital with a mixture of hope and anxiety. I was still weighed down when I first arrived and did not talk much. An older gentleman in my room noticed how worried I looked and started talking with me. He had lymphoma and had also come here because of Prof. Chun Wang's expertise in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. He was full of confidence and always spoke positively about treatment. During that difficult period, we encouraged each other and helped one another through some of the most uncertain days. Before the transplant, my attending physician, Dr. Su Li, also gave me clear and reassuring answers. He explained that allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is an established treatment option for severe aplastic anemia and may offer the possibility of long-term disease-free survival and a return to normal work and life. I had also worried that donating stem cells might harm my son. Dr. Li explained the process and donor safety clearly, which finally put that concern to rest. **Q3: What stands out most when you look back on the transplant itself?** A: In June 2021, I underwent a hematopoietic stem cell transplant at GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital, with my younger son as the donor. His HLA match was more suitable for me, and we also happened to have the same blood type. Both of my sons cared for me in their own ways throughout treatment. In those difficult days, they were not only the people I worried about most, but also a major source of strength. The transplant itself was not as frightening as I had imagined. My vital signs were generally stable in the transplant unit, and the side effects were relatively manageable. Dr. Huixia Liu, who oversaw my transplant care, often encouraged and reassured me. With careful support from the doctors and nurses, I made it through more than 20 days in the transplant unit fairly smoothly. The setback came after I left the unit. I had planned to rent a place near the hospital to recover, but severe diarrhea forced me to return. Tests showed Clostridioides difficile-associated colitis. Dr. Liu treated me using an integrative approach combining conventional medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. The symptoms gradually came under control, and my strength slowly returned. Apart from that intestinal complication, my overall recovery after transplant went relatively well. The doctors' expertise was essential, but so was the care my wife gave me every day. For the first six months after transplant, I barely left home, and almost all of the responsibility for my daily care fell on her. We had to be extremely careful about food, hygiene, and infection prevention. During the worst period of diarrhea, even basic cleaning required meticulous care, and my wife stayed beside me through it all without complaint. Before I became ill, I was a teacher and loved my work. The diagnosis forced me to step away from the classroom for a while. About a year after transplant, I returned to school and gradually resumed teaching. Looking back, treatment for a serious blood disorder is never a short journey. From the first diagnosis, to seeking care in different places, to eventually traveling to Shanghai, my wife was beside me every step of the way. I remember clearly that before I got sick, she did not have a single gray hair. Over these years, many have appeared. **Q4: How has this illness changed you? Has it changed the way you think about life, family, and happiness?** A: Before I got sick, I had many expectations for my children and many plans for our family's future. I wanted everything to move in a particular direction. After going through this illness, I have learned to let go of a lot of those expectations. What matters most is simply having the whole family together, safe and healthy. My hopes for my sons are much simpler now. I just want them to find work that allows them to support themselves, build stable families of their own, and meet partners who are kind, responsible, and share their values. That is enough for me. Since leaving the transplant unit, I have continued regular follow-up at GoBroad Shanghai Liquan Hospital. I came back specifically for my five-year evaluation, but also because I wanted to thank Dr. Su Li and his team in person. After all the tests are finished, my son and I plan to spend a little time exploring Shanghai and relaxing. For years, every trip here was for treatment. We were always rushing and never had the heart to look around. This time, I can finally walk around the city with a lighter heart before heading home. **Q5: What would you most like to say to other people going through treatment for blood disorders, and to their families?** A: I want to share something from my own experience. When you are looking for treatment, choosing a specialized hospital and an experienced medical team can make a real difference. Seek appropriate treatment while your physical condition still allows it, rather than waiting until your health has deteriorated so much that options become more limited. For me, the lesson was simple: get treated early, proceed to transplant when it is the right option, and give yourself the best chance to recover sooner. Delays can mean more complications and a weaker body by the time treatment begins. Rather than waiting until you feel you have no options left, act early and seek help from a qualified, experienced team. ![2cf301af-7635-4217-bad7-c408919737c2.png](https://gaobo-byh-h5.oss-accelerate.aliyuncs.com/images/20260912/99da1b107e79b75f852dce5d8dd2c8e6_20260912224909.png "99da1b107e79b75f852dce5d8dd2c8e6_20260912224909.png") ## Expert view Dr. Su Li (Associate Chief Physician, MD; Director, Department of Hematology, GoBroad Shanghai Liquan Hospital; Director, Myeloma Center): Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is an important treatment option for achieving durable remission in severe aplastic anemia (SAA). Mr. Liu achieved good disease control after transplantation, although his post-transplant course included several complications. During the early post-transplant period (months 1-2), he developed cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphoproliferative disorder (EBV-LPD). Both were brought under control with antiviral and related treatment. During months 3-6, he experienced recurrent Clostridioides difficile-associated colitis together with chronic cutaneous graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). These complications improved with timely intervention. As his immune function gradually recovered, his overall condition continued to improve, and all immunosuppressive medications were discontinued approximately 2.5 years after transplant. Mr. Liu has now been followed for five years. He remains relapse-free and free of ongoing GVHD, and has returned to normal work and everyday life. > This content is published with the authorization of the patient and their family, intended solely to share real experiences and health knowledge. It does not constitute a recommendation of any treatment plan or medical diagnostic advice. 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