The world of Tzu Chi February 2020 (Vol.119)

ALong-awaited Reunion On October 19, 2019, Zhao Hong Yan travelled from her homeland of Dalian in Liaoning Province, China to Taiwan to meet her benefactor Lin Zhe-qian in person after a five-year wait. As Zhe-qian arose from his seat in the audience with his mother, wife and children, Hong Yan fell to her knees onstage and bowed three times – twice of which were performed on behalf of her parents – to the Lin family. Prior to being diagnosed with leukaemia, Hong Yan led the epitome of a successful life; she was highly educated and had a stable career, in addition to being blessed with a loving family and a newborn child. “The world has kissed my soul with its pain, asking for its return in songs,” recited Hong Yan in a moving expression of the emotions stirred by reflections on her ordeal, quoting a verse from celebrated poet Rabindranath Tagore’s collection of short poems Stray Birds . During an event reuniting stem cell donors and their beneficiaries at the Jing Si Hall in Taichung, Zhao Hong Yan (far right) conveyed her gratitude to Lin Zhe-qian (2nd from right) for donating his stem cells. [Photograph by Chen Ji-xiong]