With the Qingming Festival approaching, Jiang Xiaoli bought plane tickets and planned to return to Xijing with Li Guizhi to sweep the tombs.
She received a call from Yang Guang before she left.
Yang Guang's voice was filled with bitterness, "Xiao Li, I really don't know what to do. Can you help me contact a reputable doctor in Kyoto who specializes in treating ALS? My son..."
Before the Lunar New Year, Yang Guang and Xiong Jie returned home and, following Jiang Xiaoli's advice, took their whole family to the hospital for a check-up.
Xiong Jie's family members are all in good health, but Yang Guang's son, Yang Xingkang, is not doing so well.
The Yang family was immersed in a somber atmosphere throughout the Spring Festival.
As soon as the Spring Festival holiday ended, Yang Guang took his son to a large hospital in the provincial capital for a follow-up examination. After visiting three or four hospitals, the doctors' conclusions completely shattered the heart of this burly man from Northwest China.
His 14-year-old son was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Yang Guang's wife felt guilty and remorseful for ignoring the early symptoms of her son's illness. Unable to bear the blow, she spent her days in tears.
Jiang Xiaoli sighed as she listened to his story; what was bound to happen had finally happened.
She took a deep breath. "Uncle Yang, please take care of your family first. I'll go and ask if there are any experts in this field. I'll call you back as soon as I have any news."
Yang Guang was extremely grateful. He had only contacted her as a last resort, and he never expected that she would actually help him. "Xiao Li, thank you, thank you so much."
Jiang Xiaoli knew that saying anything else at this time would be useless. "Uncle Yang, you must cheer up at this time. The family still needs you to support them. You not only need to take good care of your family, but also take good care of yourself."
Yang Guang nodded in agreement.
After hanging up the phone, Li Guizhi asked with concern, "Xiao Li, what happened?"
She briefly explained to her mother, "Mom, I won't go back to Xi'an with you to see Dad yet. I'll stay here to help Uncle Yang find a doctor specializing in this area. I'll call Aunt Xu and ask her to pick you up from the airport."
Li Guizhi nodded repeatedly, "Okay, I can do it by myself, but do you know any experts in this field?"
She shook her head. "Not yet, but I promised Uncle Yang, so of course I'll try to find a way. Don't worry about it. Come on, I'll take you to the airport first."
After seeing Li Guizhi off, on the way back to the city from the airport, Jiang Xiaoli searched her memory and realized that she really didn't know any big names in the medical field.
Suddenly she thought of Ahn So-won, whom she had met before. Ahn So-won had worked at a hospital for more than a year before retiring.
She parked her car on the side of the road and, on a whim, made a phone call to the An family's old house.
A young woman answered the phone, "Hello, who is this?"
Jiang Xiaoli politely said, "I'm looking for Grandma An."
"Grandma An?" The young woman repeated it in surprise before realizing what she meant. She called out to the kitchen, "Mom, a little girl called looking for Grandma An. She's probably looking for you!"
Ahn So-won came out of the kitchen and wiped her hands on her apron. "Didn't they say what her name was?"
"He didn't say."
Ahn So-won answered the phone, "Who is this?"
Jiang Xiaoli introduced herself, "Grandma An, I'm Jiang Xiaoli. You haven't forgotten me, have you?"
Ahn So-won laughed, "Oh, it's Little Pear! Haha, I was wondering which little girl was calling me Grandma Ahn! Why are you calling all of a sudden? Is something wrong?"
She explained the purpose of her call.
Ahn So-won thought for a moment and then tapped the table lightly. "Little Pear, you've really come to the right person. I have a senior in neurosurgery. I'll give you his phone number and have him recommend a top-notch doctor for you!"
After receiving the phone number, Jiang Xiaoli thanked her repeatedly, "Grandma An, thank you so much! I'll come visit you at home in a couple of days!"
Ahn So-won laughed and replied, "Then I'll take it seriously, don't lie to me!"
"No, I definitely will!"
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Xiaoli called An Suyuan's senior brother. When the old man heard that she was introduced by his junior sister, he readily gave her a name.
She drove directly to the Department of Neurology at Kyoto Kyoho Hospital and found Chief Physician Cheng Xin.
Cheng Xin was having a meeting with several resident doctors when he was interrupted by a knock on the door, which annoyed him greatly.
Jiang Xiaoli quickly introduced herself. Upon hearing that she was introduced by her teacher, Cheng Xin suppressed his temper and waved for the several resident doctors with drooping heads to leave first.
After listening to her description of Yang Xingkang's condition, Cheng Xin sighed, "There is no cure for ALS at present, only symptomatic treatment. We need to pay attention to the patient's respiratory and digestive functions. The patient you described is relatively young, so appropriate physical exercise can slow down the progression of the disease."
Jiang Xiaoli asked, "Would the treatment be more effective if the patient came to Kyoto?"
Cheng Xin nodded. “Local hospitals have fewer cases of ALS patients, and the probability of misdiagnosis is relatively high. If we have the capability, we can have the patient go to Kyoto for a second diagnosis. If it really is ALS, we can also give the patient targeted treatment for different stages of the disease.”
She nodded. "I understand. Thank you, Dr. Cheng. I'll contact the patient's family right away and have them bring the child over."
Cheng Xin glanced at her and said, "Young lady, let me tell you in advance that the treatment of ALS is a long-term struggle. It not only requires a lot of manpower and resources, but the patient and their family also have to undergo a huge psychological test. You must think it through carefully before deciding on treatment."
Jiang Xiaoli smiled and said, "Thank you for reminding me, Dr. Cheng. I understand."
Since she was introduced by her teacher, Cheng Xin tore off a piece of paper and wrote down his phone number. "When the patient arrives, call me and I'll arrange a bed for them."
"thank you!"
On her way home, she called Yang Guang to tell him about the situation in Kyoto.
When Yang Guang heard her say that the doctors in Kyoto also said that the disease was incurable, he hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Even if it can't be cured, we have to try. I can't bear to watch my son die at home at such a young age. Even if it can only slow down the progression of the disease, I will try!"
Jiang Xiaoli nodded, "Okay, Uncle Yang, then you should pack your things and come to Kyoto. Please tell me your family members' ID information and I'll book your plane tickets."
Yang Guang refused, "Xiao Li, you don't need to worry about these things. I'll just take Kang Kang by train."
Jiang Xiaoli advised, "Don't refuse now. Kang Kang is already sick and not feeling well. The train journey is too long, so don't go through all that trouble. Let's just make it a date. Please give me your ID numbers, Kang Kang's ID number, and Auntie's ID number."
Yang Guang was deeply moved and, without further hesitation, gave her his identity information.
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