Yu Jia was left outside a local foster home in the hopes that someone would or could save her life. She was already close to 3 months old but because of her unexplained (at the time) illness, she was unable to digest milk and as a result was malnourished and extremely underweight.

She was found at the gate dressed in clean clothes and wrapped tightly in a new blanket. Inside the blanket was a piece of paper on which was written her date of birth as well as a small bag of formula which her mother had tried to feed her. It was clear that whoever had left her outside of the home had done everything in her power to save Yu Jia and felt that leaving her to be cared for by the kind people who take in so many other orphans would possibly save her life.

Yu Jia was left outside a local foster home in the hopes that someone would or could save her life. She was already close to 3 months old but because of her unexplained (at the time) illness, she was unable to digest milk and as a result was malnourished and extremely underweight.

She was found at the gate dressed in clean clothes and wrapped tightly in a new blanket. Inside the blanket was a piece of paper on which was written her date of birth as well as a small bag of formula which her mother had tried to feed her. It was clear that whoever had left her outside of the home had done everything in her power to save Yu Jia and felt that leaving her to be cared for by the kind people who take in so many other orphans would possibly save her life.

The couple who run the foster home were not sure if she was going to make it through the night. The next morning, they found that she was still breathing and immediately called UFCO on their way to Beijing United Family Hospital to see if we could help.

Yu Jia was admitted to BJU on May 15, 2007 with the tentative diagnosis of obstruction of the bowel. Her intestines were blocked so that gas, fluids, or solids were unable to move through her intestines normally. For the past three months she had been slowly starving to death.

As an inpatient, she received daily fluids through via IV as well as oxygen and other treatments necessary to stabilize her. After a two week period that included several other complications with her health, she began to recover although she was still extremely malnourished. As the days passed, she grew stronger and more active and eventually reached a point where the doctors felt it was safe enough for her to undergo the necessary surgery. During her third week as an inpatient, Yu Jia underwent surgery in which the surgeon removed the blocked section of her bowel. A week later on June 16, 2007, she was discharged and returned to the foster home. Though they searched for her parents, they knew that it was highly unlikely they would ever return for Yu Jia considering the strict abandonment fines.

When she was admitted, the doctors and nurses working on her case gave her quality care regardless of the fact that no one thought she would survive. She will turn one year old this month on February 26th. She is healthy and happy and waiting for adoptive parents. Her bill was over RMB500,000 but the donation of 1% of Beijing United Family Hospital’s annual gross revenue allowed Yu Jia to get another chance at life.

Some children cannot be treated at BJU and require specialized medical treatment in local hospitals or overseas hospitals. Your donations will fund medical care for other orphans who find their way to us.

First week at BJU

During a critical period

Discharge day

Just one month after her discharge

December of 2007

UPDATE: In May of 2008, we received a terrible email telling us that Yu Jia had passed away suddenly. She was about to be adopted and was doing wonderfully. She suddenly grew ill and did not make it to the hospital in time. We want to send our thoughts to be with those who cared for her and are dealing with their grief.