Ordinary Hero

At 7:20 PM on April 30, Xiaomai was playing in a walnut orchard in Layika Township when a bamboo dragonfly she chased flew under a running tractor. Her right arm was severed by the machinery, leaving her grievously injured. The accident immediately set off a race against time for urgent medical help.

At 8:25 PM, Xiaomai's mother and brother drove through the countryside and bazaars toward Hotan City with the injured girl. Police and emergency responders coordinated to secure safe transport and speed the journey. The grim ride marked the beginning of a long medical evacuation.

By 10:00 PM Xiaomai was placed on the operating table at Hotan Regional People's Hospital after initial stabilization and bandaging. Medical staff prepared to treat the wound and stabilize her condition under urgent circumstances. The hospital scene was tense as responders organized care.

Dr. Aikebai explained two paths: suturing the wound on-site to save her life or transferring to Urumqi for an arm replacement. Xiaomai's mother collapsed in the hospital upon hearing the option, overwhelmed by the gravity of choice. The family faced a difficult decision under extreme time pressure.

Xiaomai's brother chose to attempt saving the arm by moving her toward Urumqi for the procedure. He prepared for an urgent transfer, leaving the local hospital to seek out a definitive solution. The plan shifted from local stabilization to long-distance surgical care.

Ambulances reached Hotan Airport as the last CZ6820 flight to Urumqi was preparing to depart. Airport authorities coordinated to secure boarding for Xiaomai and her brother, prioritising the emergency evacuation. The airport became the gateway for a life-saving transfer.

CZ6820 departed toward Urumqi at 00:09 on May 1. The crew and ground support managed a rapid takeoff under urgent circumstances. The journey began with a narrow window to reach specialized care.

To shorten the journey, Xinjiang air traffic control and the PLA Air Force allowed a direct route through restricted airspace. The unusual routing helped shave precious minutes off the flight time. The crew followed the modified path to bring Xiaomai to care faster.

On board, Xiaomai's wound began to bleed due to pressure changes and she developed a pneumothorax from the tractor injury. Flight attendant Zhou Yan and doctor Liu Rui delivered critical in-flight care, stabilizing her and guiding the medical team. The crew's decisive actions kept her alive en route to care.

CZ6820 landed in Urumqi at 1:36 AM and the emergency center activated its plan for rapid patient transfer to hospital. The team had prepared for fast offload and immediate handover to local medical staff. The timing underscored the urgency of the situation.

At 2:12 AM Xiaomai and her brother arrived at the Affiliated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Xinjiang Medical University. The hospital prepared preoperative examinations, cleaned the amputated limb, and drew blood for testing. The team worked efficiently to ready her for surgery.

Xiaomai's operation began at 3:09 AM in the operating room. Surgeons prepared and commenced procedures related to her arm injury. The medical team worked through the night to give her the best possible outcome.

The surgeons completed the operation and Xiaomai returned to the ward at 7:13 AM. Medical staff continued post-operative care and monitoring. Her family awaited further news in a state of relief mixed with fatigue.

Xiaomai's mother arrived in Urumqi to reunite with Xiaomai and her brother after the dramatic journey. The reunion took place in the hospital setting, providing emotional support during a critical recovery phase. The family remained focused on Xiaomai's long road to recovery.