On the morning of October 14, a group of 27 doctors began to hike 170 kilometres from Dali to Lijiang. The event was jointly initiated by the First Affiliated Hospital to Kunming Medical University and Dr. Robert Detrano, a doctorial supervisor of the University of California Irvine’s School of Medicine. The effort was undertaken to raise money for children suffering from congenital heart disease.

When carrying out screenings for congenital heart disease in Wenshan in early August, Dr.Detrano found Xiaoyong, a 4-month-old boy from the Zhuang ethnic group. Xiaoyong suffers from tricuspid atresia and pulmonary atresia. If the boy does not receive an operation in a timely manner, he could die. However, the estimated operating cost of 200,000 yuan is an astronomical figure for Xiaoyong’s parents, who are just farmers. In order to help Xiaoyong, Dr.Detrano decided to hike from Dali to Lijiang to raise the money required for such an operation.

 “I am 73 years old and my health is not as good as it was ten years ago, but as long as I can walk, I will not give up on these children with congenital heart defects in Yunnan,” said Dr.Detrano.

Ten years ago, Dr.Detrano came to Yunnan alone, leaving behind the good medical care, teaching, research opportunities and living conditions in the United States. In Yunnan, he travelled from village to village to provide medical services for locals. Over the past decade, he has helped more than 500 poverty-stricken children in Yunnan with congenital heart disease obtain free surgeries. He also trained nearly 20,000 grassroots doctors in the province.

When asked why he had come to practise medicine in Yunnan, Dr. Detrano said, “In the winter of 2005, when I was cycling in Yunnan, a villager invited me to his home. It was a long walk. When we got there, it was already dark. The poor, hospitable family received me warmly and let me sleep in their best bed. I asked myself, ‘what can I do to thank them?’” It was at that moment that Dr.Detrano decided to stay in Yunnan to help the poor but honest and hospitable people.

On a recent visit back home, Dr.Detrano’s foot was injured and other members in the team advised him to forego the hiking trip. However, Dr.Detrano said, “I am a doctor. I know my physical condition. My foot injury is a slight one and my life is not at risk. Xiaoyong’s life can be taken back by God at any time. If we stop the hike, we will not raise enough money for Xiaoyong’s surgery. Therefore, I can’t quit the event for such a minor injury.”