Nurses from the plastic surgery department of the city emergency center show Tan Ding's HIV antibody test report when he was having cosmetic surgery.
Today is the 23rd World AIDS Day, and this year's theme is the same as last year: "universal access and human rights", emphasizing that achieving universal access to AIDS prevention, treatment, care, and support is an urgent matter in protecting human rights.
For this reason, our reporter approaches two people infected with HIV, listening to their voices...
Life is like a song, never losing hope.
He is infected with the HIV virus, with a life expectancy of at most another 10 years. However, he wants to make his remaining 10 years meaningful. For this purpose, he went to the plastic surgery department of the city emergency center, requesting a rhinoplasty to enhance his image as a print model.
"The thing I regret most in my life is being unable to repay my mother; making her happy by doing my utmost to fulfill filial piety is my greatest wish during my lifetime," he said.
This print model
is an AIDS patient.
"Doctor, if my nose bridge were a bit higher, wouldn't it give me more elegance?" On the morning of November 20th, a young man around 1.8 meters tall walked into the office of the plastic surgeon at the city emergency center, claiming he wanted a rhinoplasty.
The young man's name is Tan Ding (a pseudonym), 27 years old, who claims to be a print model. Looking at himself in the mirror, the outgoing Tan Ding became self-absorbed, saying that although he has a handsome face, his insufficiently high nose is a major flaw.
"I want to talk to the head of the department about something important." After half an hour of consultation and conversation, he suddenly made this request.
Subsequently, head nurse Fan Shimai took Tan Ding to Director Wu Yi's office.
He asked, "Director Wu, I... I am an AIDS patient, not sure if I can still have surgery?"
A Ten-Year Life Plan
Just for Filial Piety
"I just want to make my limited life more valuable, live more fully, and do my utmost to honor my mother." Seeing that Director Wu and Head Nurse did not refuse, Tan Ding excitedly expressed his thoughts on plastic surgery.
Tan Ding recounted that he comes from a working-class family, and his parents divorced when he was three years old, leaving him to live with his mother ever since. During university, he contracted the HIV virus due to homosexuality. After graduation, because of his good looks, Tan Ding became a part-time print model. He claimed that recently, through a friend's introduction, he would become a full-time print model in a coastal city, so he mustered up the courage to consult with the plastic surgery department of the emergency center to improve his appearance.
Tan Ding also mentioned that his physical condition is getting worse, and regular check-ups revealed that his immune system is declining, with his white blood cell CD4 index dropping to only 340 (the normal adult CD4 count is between 500 and 1600 per cubic millimeter). According to the progression of AIDS, he will soon enter the onset period, with his life entering a countdown, likely lasting no more than 5-10 years.
"I hope you can help me achieve all my wishes." Tan Ding pleaded, stating that within the limited 10 years, he doesn't want to spend his days in despair and decadence but instead has planned out his life, making each day he lives valuable and meaningful.
Tan Ding sorrowfully told Director Wu that his aging and ailing mother still does not know he is infected with AIDS. Within his limited lifespan, he hopes to earn as much money as possible to provide for his mother in her old age.
Filial Piety Moves the Hospital
Free Rhinoplasty for Him
"This is too special; we've never encountered such a dilemma before, and we were really at a loss initially." Director Wu Yi recalled how they quickly regained composure upon seeing Tan Ding's sincere eyes.
"As an HIV-infected person, he didn't fall into pessimism or despair at the end of his life but instead embraced gratitude and kindness, actively facing life—this is truly touching and admirable," Wu Yi stated. In their conversations with Tan Ding, they also learned that to prevent spreading the virus to others, Tan Ding voluntarily broke up with his homosexual partner and brought the other party to the hospital for HIV testing.
On November 22nd, after discussions among the department doctors, they decided to perform the surgery on Tan Ding free of charge. Director Wu introduced that to avoid spreading the virus, they specially prepared a custom-made operating table for Tan Ding, and the surgeons took strict protective measures. All medical instruments were used once and then completely destroyed. After the surgery, his nose became even more prominent.
Yesterday afternoon, the reporter contacted Tan Ding, who had already arrived in a coastal city.
"The most precious thing is human life; as long as one can live another day, it should be lived brightly and meaningfully." Over the phone, Tan Ding remained very cheerful, laughing heartily at times. "It’s said that in the late stages of this disease, the body might rot, and thinking about how life will slowly fade away like this is indeed terrifying," Tan Ding said. Although he is reluctant to leave life, he must face reality calmly.
Tan Ding told the reporter that after being diagnosed with HIV infection, he hesitated for a long time, originally planning to tell his mother the result, but seeing his silver-haired mother, he lost the courage instantly.
"Now I can only silently pray, asking my mother to forgive me, and hoping to be her son again in the next life." Tan Ding said that within his limited life, he only hopes to live well every day, do his job well, and earn enough money for his hardworking mother to live comfortably in her old age.
Reported by Li Kui, with photos by Zhang Zhi