10th June 2010, while I was visiting theUnited States, I received a mail forwarded by my secretary. It was from Gianni Ciccotosto, the grandson of an Australian patient in Ward 7 of our hospital. In the letter, he wrote: “Dear Professor Xu. You are very friendly to my family and me. … I believe that you are having a good time in theUnited States. … I have an important question to ask. Can I become a doctor and begin my study in your hospital now? I am willing to study and work hard …” This was written by a nine-year old boy. After reading his letter, I could not remain calm for quite awhile. Our job had even touched the heart of a child.
Alberto Giglia was the grandpa of that child. He was from Perth in Western Australia. This city has produced two Nobel Prize winners specializing in digestive diseases, Professor Barry Marshall and Dr Robin Warren. They discovered helicobacter pylori and brought about a revolutionary change in treatment of digestive diseases and provided a new concept on the incidence of gastric cancer. Alberto Giglia was suffering from gastric cancer. When it was diagnosed, the tumor was unresectable. Chemotherapy had failed to control the disease. Alberto, a hotel owner, was seventy-one years old. He had three daughters and a son. September 2009, he came along with his two daughters and a grandson. This was the first time he came toChina. He was admitted into our hospital and his disease was under control after treatment. More than a month ago, he was examined inAustraliaand discovered that the primary foci of gastric cancer and metastatic lymph nodes had mostly disappeared. The whole family was very happy. He came back to our hospital for consolidation treatment. After treatment, they went around Guangzhou to visit various places of attraction and to enjoy sumptuous meals. Gilberto told us that his grandson was very smart. When he noticed that his grandpa was getting better and better each day, he had the fantasy of studying medicine inChina. On 26th June 2010, Gilberto was discharged and I met them at the hospital lobby. His grandson held my hand and asked me to promise that I would let him study medicine in our hospital.