Man becomes city's 900th unrelated stem cell donor

A young man became the city’s 900th unrelated hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) donor yesterday, marking a major milestone for the local donation program. The stem cell collection took place at The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital.

People join Wang Zining (C) in a celebration after Wang becoming Shenzhen’s 900th unrelated hematopoietic stem cell donor at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital. Photos courtesy of Shenzhen Blood Center

The donor’s contribution continues a remarkable trend in Shenzhen, which has not only set a new record for total donations but has also achieved its latest 100-donor milestone in just nine months — the fastest interval to date.

Wang Zining gives a thumbs-up after completing his stem cell donation at the hospital yesterday.

Like many volunteers who join the China Marrow Donor Program, the donor, a young man named Wang Zining, had been hoping for the chance to save a life since registering in 2021.

When he received the call that he was a match, he immediately agreed to donate. However, initial excitement soon turned to concern. Worried that his less-regulated lifestyle might disqualify him, he began exercising regularly and improving his diet to ensure he would be able to help.

“I was truly relieved only after the physical exam showed I met all the donation criteria,” Wang said.

Wang’s journey into donation began years earlier, when he happened to pass by a blood drive and noticed a sign calling for Type O blood. He decided to step in and help. It was there that staff introduced him to the importance of both blood and stem cell donations. From that moment on, he became a regular blood donor and eventually joined the stem cell registry.

Wang Zining poses with his certificate, marking him as Shenzhen’s 900th unrelated hematopoietic stem cell donor.

Reflecting on becoming the symbolic 900th donor, Wang remained humble. “No matter what the number is, every single donation is meaningful to the donor and the patient. Every donation represents a hope for life. I just happened to be the 900th,” he said.

Wang also expressed hope that more people would learn about and support donor programs, giving more patients a chance to overcome illness.

In a handwritten letter to the recipient, a teenager diagnosed with leukemia, Wang offered words of encouragement. “I’m honored to provide you with this small help out of billions of people in the world. This period must have been very difficult for you, but your perseverance and every effort you make are creating a miracle of life — and you are the protagonist of that miracle.”

A handwritten letter from Wang Zining offers words of encouragement to the recipient of his stem cell donation.

Shenzhen’s stem cell donation program has seen exponential growth. Statistics from the Shenzhen Blood Center show that it took nearly 10 years to achieve the first 100 donations, and another 5.5 years to reach 200.

The pace has continued to quicken significantly. Since 2022, Shenzhen has recorded over 100 donations per year. The city is expected to reach its 100th donation of 2025 by mid-September.