An 18-year-old Chinese girl who had just completed the Gaokao (college entrance exam) fell into a coma after being stricken with fulminant myocarditis. She battled with death for 8 days in her hospital bed, and unexpectedly, it was a university admission letter that ultimately 'woke her' from her coma.
According to Chinese media reports, the 18-year-old girl, Jiang Chennan, is from Pingdingshan, Henan Province, China. She was supposed to be at home waiting for her university admission letter, but was unexpectedly diagnosed with fulminant myocarditis. Her heart function rapidly deteriorated to 40% of what is normal, and she had to rely on an ECMO (artificial heart-lung machine) to sustain her life.
Since Jiang Chennan's family is not well off, the family tried every means to raise enough money to cover the huge medical expenses, borrowing from friends and relatives, and starting an online fundraising campaign.
On the 8th day of her coma, Jiang Chennan's university admission letter arrived. Her father, moved to tears, held the letter up by her bedside and choked out, "Daughter, Dad is so happy! You’ve been admitted to university!"
Unexpectedly, at that moment, Jiang Chennan's eyelids fluttered slightly in her hospital bed, rekindling the family's hopes.
The next morning, she miraculously raised her right hand and made an 'OK' gesture to her father. Her father said that at that moment, his daughter was very clear-headed, she just couldn’t speak.
Jiang Chennan has since been taken off the ventilator and transferred to a general ward. Her attending doctor said that if her recovery progresses smoothly, she is expected to start university in September.
"Her determination to enter university may have been the key that supported her to wake up."
"Fulminant myocarditis" is a very dangerous inflammatory heart disease, often caused by viral infection, autoimmune reaction, or drug toxicity. It has an acute onset and rapid progression, with a mortality rate over 50%. It may cause extensive damage to the heart muscle, leading to heart failure or even cardiogenic shock. Symptoms include chest tightness, difficulty breathing, decreased blood pressure, and mental confusion. If these symptoms occur, immediate medical attention is necessary.