Wen Yan poses with a group of local children in Zimbabwe. CHINA DAILY

Wen Yan, a pediatrician from Hengyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Hunan province, returned to China last month after a transformative year-long medical mission in Zimbabwe.

As a member of the 21st China (Hunan) Medical Team to Zimbabwe, her journey was a testament to resilience, ingenuity and unwavering compassion in the face of overwhelming challenges. From nurturing fragile newborns to cultivating vegetables in arid soil, her story is one of profound humanity and cross-cultural solidarity.

During her tenure at Parirenyatwa Hospital, Wen faced daunting challenges: scarce medical resources, extreme heat, language barriers and limited neonatal care infrastructure. Despite these obstacles, she spearheaded life-saving interventions for critically ill newborns.

Among countless medical emergencies, one case etched itself into her memory: the fight to save Beauty, a 25-week preterm infant weighing a mere 800 grams. Born with underdeveloped lungs and severe respiratory distress, Beauty was deemed unlikely to survive in a hospital lacking the necessary equipment.

"Her skin was translucent, her body smaller than my palm," Wen said. "But even with the smallest chance, we had to try our best."

A cucumber grows in the plot Wen tended during her stay at Parirenyatwa Hospital. CHINA DAILY

Wen improvised by fashioning a non-invasive device, carefully adjusting airflow to prevent lung damage. To mimic the protective warmth of the womb, she wrapped Beauty in plastic film, securing it with tape to minimize heat and moisture loss.

The greatest crisis struck when Beauty's heart rate plummeted to 30 beats per minute during a prolonged apnea episode. Wen immediately initiated manual ventilation while directing nurses to administer a stimulant for preterm infants, as well as glucose to stabilize blood sugar.

For almost five hours, she knelt beside the incubator, rhythmically squeezing the bag, her eyes locked on the cardiac monitor. Finally, Beauty gained spontaneous ventilation, with Wen's medical gown soaked by sweat.

By the time of her discharge over two months later, Beauty weighed 2,050 grams — a milestone celebrated with laughter and tears. "I want my daughter to be a doctor like you," her mother said, clasping Wen's hands.

Wen's mission extended beyond saving lives. She conducted weekly training sessions for local nurses and interns, demonstrating neonatal intubation techniques on handmade silicone models. Her bilingual Handbook on Flu and Diarrhea Management, distributed during rural outreach, became a lifeline for communities lacking clean water.

During 16 grueling mobile clinics that benefited over 6,000 patients, she trekked to remote villages where families walked for hours under a blazing sun. In one orphanage, she treated malnourished children while distributing candies from her own stash — a small gesture that drew radiant smiles.

"Their gratitude humbled me," she said. "I could not complain about the heat or being tired from traveling, because local people were lining up for hours for me to treat them."

Wen treats a child at Parirenyatwa Hospital together with local medical workers. CHINA DAILY

In China, she said, people often take privileges like safety, transportation and healthcare access for granted. She recalled Zimbabwe's stark realities — communities fetching water for hours, families sleeping on straw mats and pediatric resources stretched thin. Yet the "pure hope" in children's eyes motivated her daily.

Over the year, Wen's team treated 1,200 pediatric outpatients, hospitalized 500 critically ill children and reduced neonatal mortality significantly.

A limited variety of food pushed Wen to embrace self-reliance. "I missed fresh vegetables terribly," she said. Determined to improve her team's nutrition, she began experimenting with gardening in the hospital's dusty courtyard. Using seeds purchased locally, Wen carved out a small plot. She planted cucumbers, green beans, chile peppers, cabbage and watermelons, though the latter never bore fruit.

Water scarcity posed the greatest hurdle. Each morning, she saved the water from washing her face and brushing her teeth, carefully pouring it into a bucket to water her crops.

Through trial and error, her green beans and cucumbers thrived. The crisp vegetables became a rare luxury, shared joyfully with teammates during meals.

"In Africa, I learned that hope grows even in the harshest soil," she said. Her garden may have yielded only cucumbers and beans, but her true harvest — a legacy of healed children, empowered colleagues and strengthened Sino-African ties — will endure for generations, she added.

Zhu Youfangcontributed to this story.