"Good morning! I feel much better in my body," happily exclaimed Jamie Sue King from the United States to the medical staff of the Changsha Jingkai Hospital when they made the rounds of the wards in the early morning of January 8, 2024. Sue came to Changsha seeking rehabilitation treatment for obesity on December 25, 2023. She said, "Everyone here has been very caring and warm to me. Although it was my first time in China and Changsha, I had no worries or concerns about being hospitalized in a foreign country. Coming all the way to Changsha was the best decision I have ever made."

A doctor with the Changsha Jingkai Hospital conducts an examination on Sue. 

Sue comes from an ordinary family in America. Over the past few years during the epidemic, she had been staying at home due to arthritis and lumbar spinal disease. This, coupled with poor dietary habits, and lack of exercise led to a gradual weight increase. Her weight of over 200 kilograms has posed significant challenges to her daily life and caused more health problems. She cannot stand alone, and even walking becomes a luxury.

Upon learning about Sue's situation, her brother and sister-in-law, who work in China, were determined to help her. Inspired by the positive experience they had when her sister-in-law gave birth at the Changsha Jingkai Hospital, they decided to explore the option of having Sue receive treatment there. So they contacted Sun Yuehui, director of the hospital’s International Medical Center, in the hopes of arranging treatment for Sue.
 
Sue's journey to Changsha was full of challenges, and her weight of more than 200 kilograms made taking a flight a difficult task. She had to reserve two seats for herself and she needed assistance during boarding and disembarking from the plane. Her travel route involved flying from the United States to South Korea before transferring to a flight bound for Changsha. After careful planning, Sue arrived in Changsha by plane on December 25, 2023.

The Changsha Jingkai Hospital made elaborate preparations for Sue's arrival, including dispatching a dedicated vehicle and personnel to pick her up from the Changsha Huanghua International Airport, decorating her ward, and preparing flowers and gifts. Sue was deeply moved by all these warm-hearted arrangements.

The medical process was not easy either. Sue's weight caused problems for routine checkups. Her thick layers of fat made it hard to check her body with a B-mode ultrasound scan, and her body size is too large for a CT scan. In the face of these challenges, Hu Guohuang, vice president of the Changsha Jingkai Hospital, organized a multidisciplinary consultation with experts from the departments of nutrition, rehabilitation, cardiovascular, respiratory, general surgery, endocrinology and psychology to brainstorm treatment plans. 

"While Sue's condition presents unique challenges that may not have been encountered by many hospitals before, the Changsha Jingkai Hospital is determined to step up and make every effort to aid her recovery," said Hu Guohuang.

After more than 10 days of rehabilitation, Sue's health gradually improved. On January 7, 2024, she was able to stand alone and get out of bed and walk on her own. On January 8, the medical staff measured Sue and found that her weight had dropped from more than 200kg to 194.6kg. Sue is currently in hospital for further treatment. 

After more than 10 days of rehabilitation, Sue’s weight has dropped from more than 200kg to 194.6kg. 

The photos above were provided by Zhou Shinan from Changsha Evening News.

Translator: Kuang Zhenzhen

Chinese source: Changsha Evening News