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Written by Shambhu Sharan, The Shorthorn staff |
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Tuesday, 29 September 2009 09:25 PM |
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Lijing Liu’s father Jun, center, caresses Lijing’s head as her mother, Ling Liu, right, and Physics graduate Yuebin Li look on Sunday at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth. Lijing Liu, formerly in a coma, can now move her head, eyes, recognize faces and understand speech. She is still unable to talk but is now breathing on her own without a respiration tube. (The Shorthorn: Shambhu Sharan) When Lijing Liu’s father asked his daughter to move her head, she moved it. Lijing Liu electrical engineering graduate student, formerly in a coma, can now move her head, eyes and eyelids, recognize faces and understand people talking to her. She still cannot talk. Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth doctors took out her respiration tube and she is able to breath on her own. After an upcoming surgery she will have to be moved, doctors said. But her parents said they can’t afford it. Two blood clots in Liu’s brain ruptured and began to bleed during the summer, which caused her to fall into a coma. Her father, Jun Liu, said doctors will arrange Liu’s surgery on Oct. 5 to remove the last of her blood clots. The doctors asked Liu’s parents to move her out of the hospital after the surgery and find one in China or a rehabilitation center in the Metroplex. “The situation in China is very hard,” Liu’s father said. “If people have no money, they can’t stay in the hospital.” Doctors are trying to find a rehabilitation center, which is expensive. Lijing’s insurance ran out and doesn’t cover the expenses of rehabilitation. Lijing is not a U.S. citizen and doesn’t qualify for special support programs, Liu’s father said. Deputy Consul General Yu Boren, with the Chinese Consulate, came from Houston to meet with Liu’s family along with Wang Dong, cultural and press affairs consul, and Yu Haiying, science and technology consul. “I am worried about Liu’s major operation. Going back to China is a long trip. If she can stay here until she recovers it would be better,” Boren said. “Liu’s family has spent all of their money. They are from an ordinary family and they need help.” In the meantime, Liu is still considered a UTA student. “Lijing Liu has a medical reason for not being enrolled,” said Judy Young, Office of International Education executive director. “As long as there is medical reason the office can give [her] medical waiver to stay in the university.” A medical waiver was filed for her this semester and was approved. Liu needs to file another the waiver at the end of fall or beginning of the spring semester to continue keeping her status as a student. Young said she hopes Liu can recover and complete her degree. The office is keeping in touch with Friendship Association of Chinese Students and Scholars, the organization of which Liu is a member, about her situation, Young said. The association raised donations for her in front of the library for two weeks in September, built a Web site for her and helped shuttle her parents to and from the hospital. If she has to go back to China, Boren will make sure the local government would help her, he said.
Donate Lijing Liu (or Friendship Association of Chinese Students and Scholars) Please make checks payable to: If you would like to volunteer to help in any other way please contact: Web site in honor of Lijing Liu: |
