On The Web: Teen Attempts Suicide To Save Father’s Life

On the Web

by Lamar Tyler | on February 5th, 2009 | 7 comments

This was a very interesting story I ran across here at cnn.com:

A 13-year-old Chinese girl tried to commit suicide because she wanted her family to donate her liver to her cancer-stricken father, state media reported Thursday.

The girl, Chen Jin, swallowed more than 200 sleeping pills after she discovered a medical note in her mother’s purse that said her father was dying of liver cancer and had three months left to live, the news agency Xinhua said.

Jin’s mother returned home after visiting her husband in the hospital to find the front door locked. The mother climbed in through a back window and found two empty bottles of sleeping pills.

“Mom, I’m sorry I couldn’t stay with you any longer,” read a note that the teen had left next to her. “Please give my liver to dad and save him after my death.”

All I can say to this one is wow. What are your thoughts?

About the author

Lamar and Ronnie Tyler are the creators of the award-winning blog BlackandMarriedWithKids.com . They also are behind the Amazon.com bestselling DVDs Happily Ever After: A Positive Image of Black Marriage, You Saved Me and Men Ain’t Boys that explores manhood in the African American community. The Tylers are also the proud parents of four children.

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Comments (7)

Ruth Thursday - 05 / 02 / 2009 Reply

It makes sense to me. When I found out my mother was dying from liver cancer I went into a horrible, suicidal depression. However being 19 instead of 13 when it happened, I knew that I could donate part of my liver and stay alive (splitting in half would have been enough liver for each of us). Unfortunately, she wasn't a good transplant candidate so I wasn't even able to find out if I was a match. I understand the overwhelming desire to help a sick parent. I hope she can get some treatment for what sounds like a serious depression. I was able to see that my living was much more valuable to my mom than anything else. Ruths last blog post..Somewhere, Someone is Meditating or Intending Actions So You’ll Find Happiness
Harriet Thursday - 05 / 02 / 2009 Reply

Wow...I totally agree with Ruth, but I also wonder if this young girl had seen the movie Seven Pounds and taken it to heart? Either way, I hope both her and her father recover expeditiously.
MissJay Thursday - 05 / 02 / 2009 Reply

Wow poor family. I hope everything works out for the best for them.
Political Pete Thursday - 05 / 02 / 2009 Reply

This is heartbreaking . . . Political Petes last blog post..Naturally 7: One of the Most Talented Groups Ever
ewok Thursday - 05 / 02 / 2009 Reply

Bless her little heart. She was trying to save her father. While she went through extreme measures from the outside looking in, she did it out of love for her father. My heart breaks for them and I wish her entire family the best.
Tannim Thursday - 05 / 02 / 2009 Reply

Obviously PRC medicine has never heard that a partial liver donation can do the trick, and the liver has the unique ability to regrow itself. This girl attempted suicide based on a lack of knowledge of the options. That blame lies at the doorstep of the Forbidden City and their backwards censorship ways, not to mention their low standard of state-operated medical care.
Anna Thursday - 05 / 02 / 2009 Reply

My thought on this when reading it was "WOW". My second though was if she took 200 pills what were the odds that her liver would have not been damaged and no good to implant in anyone. So many ppl doing desperate things. I know the girl is 13 and her reasoning was to save her dad. I hope this little girl gets some counseling.