TAKE CARE: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (middle) visits Xiang Weiyi, a two-and-half-year-old survivor of the high-speed train collision in Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, on July 28 (XINHUA)

Passionate volunteers

Chen Xuyan, a third-grade student in Wenzhou Medical College, was one of the volunteers at Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, where Xiang was transferred at 8 p.m. on July 24.

Chen wore a red volunteer's cap everyday with a round face and fair skin under it. "I volunteer here for Xiang," Chen said.

At 6 a.m. on July 24, she went to Wenzhou Third People's Hospital to take care of patients from the train crash. "I am accustomed to volunteering, like working in welfare institutions. Upon hearing the news [of the accident], my first response was that I wanted to do something," Chen said.

Knowing that Xiang was the last survivor that evening, Chen asked the school counselor for permission to look after Xiang.

Xiang was the daughter of Chen's Chinese teacher, Xiang Yu'an at high school. "He wasn't handsome and he was shorter than 1.7 meters, but his charisma justified our deep respect for him," Chen said.

Admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), Chen saw the girl was recovering gradually.

"She wore an oxygen mask and her lovely little face was stained by cuts when I saw her for the first time. She was saying something too softly to be heard," Chen said with tears in eyes on July 25.

Five days later, cuts were becoming scabs. Xiang asked grandma for grapes. Encouraged by people around, she smiled as she helped herself to some grapes.

Xiang liked Chen's red cap so much that every time she would focus on it when she saw Chen. "Maybe she loves the color of the cap. Children always like colorful things," Xu said.

Outpouring sympathy

"Please keep quiet. Xiang Weiyi is in the room. Please wash your hands and use antiseptic before visiting her in case of cross-infection." This is a piece of advice for visitors put out of Xiang's room in the ICU on the fourth floor of the first building of Yuying Children's Hospital.

Outside the ICU, an approximately eight-square-meter corridor leads directly to the stairs, blocking air circulation. It was extremely muggy without an air-conditioner, especially so on a summer afternoon.

"This place is not well equipped. But it has seen many touching stories," said Ke Xiurong, 20, another student in his third year at Wenzhou Medical College. He volunteered to be responsible for communications work with Xiang's relatives and visitors for the first week.

"Visitors come and bring Xiang so many gifts, like flowers, colorful paper cranes, toys cherished by little children and different kinds of fairy tale books. The room is too small to hold them all," Ke said.

For Ke, this was the first time to be so close to death, which contributes a better understanding of life and parents' love.

Emerging from darkness

Xiang's favorite cartoon character is Shimajirou, a diminutive male tiger and hero of the preschool education product from Japan's Benesse Corporation. He likes playing football and eating donuts, but is afraid of thunder and hates green peppers.

"Xiang watches Shimajirou's VCD with us everyday. We tell fairy tales to her and she plays with her plush Shimajirou," said Lin Xiaomin, one of three nurses devoted exclusively to caring for Xiang at Yuying Children's Hospital. "Xiang is a little naughty, but everyone loves her with even more patience than for their own children."

Lin and two other nurses worked in shifts to give Xiang around-the-clock care. Lin had to leave her own 3-year-old daughter at home.

"She is more optimistic. This brings us great happiness!" Lin said.

"Frog, Frog!" Xiang shouted when hearing frogs jump out of the evil stepmother's mouth in the book The Three Little Men in the Woods. She had more smiles when she was praised. Sometimes she would take pictures with people around for fun.

However, the girl was scared and sensitive at the beginning. There always had to be someone staying with her, because she awoke and cried several times at night.

According to Ye Jing, a doctor in charge of Xiang's case, emotional communication was a big problem when Xiang arrived.

Ye examined Xiang many times a day. "I'm so sorry that she lost her parents. I hope she'll get well soon," Ye said. She often talked and played with Xiang after work.

SAFE TRANSFER: Xiang Weiyi (middle), the last survivor of the Wenzhou train collision, is transferred to Shanghai's Xinhua Hospital for furthur treatment on August 22 (XINHUA)

On the noon of August 22, Xiang was transferred to the Shanghai-based Xinhua Hospital, which is affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University's School of Medicine, for further treatment.

The hospital, located some 600 km away from Wenzhou, organized experts in children's orthopedics, rehabilitation, plastic surgery, neurology and neurosurgery. They gave Xiang a comprehensive examination, especially for her left leg, according to Wu Hao, vice president of the hospital.

(Source: Beijing Evening News)