Last April, two teachers born after 1995, working in Xuzhou and Jinan respectively, both from Xueersi Suyang, took a week off and checked into hospital wards—although they had never met before.

Every day, they underwent injections, observed their bodily reactions and changes, and four to five days later their blood was drawn. They were hooked up to blood cell separation machines, and their blood was filtered and returned to their bodies. The entire process took several hours, during which 50 to 100 milliliters of hematopoietic stem-cell-rich blood was collected into sealed bags and transported by medical staff. In another hospital, patients suffering from blood diseases were waiting for this life-saving gift—this was their hope for rebirth.

Wang Yance: 28-year-old teacher at Xueersi Suyang Xuzhou Branch School, and Anhui Huainan's 81st donor of hematopoietic stem cells.

Sun Haoran: 25-year-old teacher at Xueersi Suyang Jinan Branch School, and Shandong Jinan’s 202nd donor of hematopoietic stem cells.

Wang Yance Successfully Donated Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Sun Haoran Successfully Donated Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Sun Haoran: Passion Isn’t Always Wild and Reckless

On April 30, the day after Sun Haoran was discharged, we connected via voice call. He shared that he felt slightly weak but overall fine and expected to recover within three to five days.

When the Red Cross contacted him on March 10, Haoran had almost forgotten that years ago, while accompanying a friend for medical visits, he had donated blood and left hematopoietic stem cell samples at the hospital. “I confirmed the staff member's identity multiple times and listened to a detailed introduction for over ten minutes before recalling it,” Haoran said. He was surprised to learn that he had a successful match.

But during that very phone call, Haoran made a clear decision. He learned that he was the sole match for a 2005-born patient—a rare probability. Haoran began considering how to persuade his family for their agreement and support, and sought to understand the necessary processes and formalities. From the Red Cross staff, he also discovered that donating hematopoietic stem cells didn’t involve “bone marrow extraction” but instead relied on well-established, safe methods of peripheral blood collection.

Sun Haoran Performing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Collection

Once the decision was made, everything naturally fell into place: high compatibility confirmed, timelines finalized, informing his parents... The patient’s situation was somewhat urgent, so both Haoran and the Red Cross staff hoped the process could proceed swiftly.

When Haoran informed his company to request leave, word spread quickly among his colleagues. “They said I was remarkable, so eventually I just started saying, ‘Yeah, I’m indeed remarkable.’” Haoran’s team shares a close-knit and playful atmosphere.

His coworkers voluntarily took over his classes, and even planned to visit him at the hospital. In a group chat with over 100 members, when tapping Haoran’s name, a notification popped up: "Virtue +1." Within no time, everyone had tapped him to flood the screen with praise. Inspired by his actions, his colleague Mr. Cui said, "Donating stem cells is something I still find mildly intimidating, but blood donation seems manageable—I've made plans to go soon."

Students and parents who learned about the news extended their congratulations, with some parents expressing wishes to bring their children along to visit him—which Haoran gratefully declined. Haoran commented on his return to work: “I’m willing to contribute to public promotions for stem cell donation, but I hope my story doesn’t become overemphasized. I want parents and students to recognize and respect me for my professional skills, not just this aspect.”

Messages of Gratitude Received by Sun Haoran

During the days at the hospital’s collection ward, Haoran experienced everything by himself, despite receiving an outpouring of love and blessings through messages.

One night, lying on his hospital bed amidst complete silence, he reflected on his own actions. “I thought to myself, ‘What I’m doing is a passionate act, one filled with genuine passion.’ Passion doesn’t always have to be wild and unrestrained; it can manifest through hard work—or like this, quietly reaching the soul's deepest passion.”

These thoughts were inspired by young people's daily lives filled with anxiety and fervor, Fu Hang’s Passion comedy skits, Liu Kaixin’s book May You Be Free and Radiant, and above all, the life-changing act of hematopoietic stem cell donation—a uniqueness out of ten thousand.

Back at home, Haoran resumed his routine of cooking and spending quiet moments alone. He avoids framing his decision as an act of "great love"; instead, he considers it a memorable milestone in his life.

“If I have my own child in the future, I’ll share the story and brag about it to them.”

Q&A:

Q: Was the injection and collection process painful?
A: The first two days were painless, but by the third day, I started feeling back pain and headaches. My body produced an excess of hematopoietic stem cells, leading to feelings of “blockage.” During the collection, it felt as though the blocked substances were being extracted, bringing relief bit by bit.

Q: Will you encourage others to become donation volunteers after this experience?
A: I won't actively call on everyone to do it. However, if anyone asks me individually, I’ll explain the related processes and pros-and-cons to help them make objective decisions.

Wang Yance: Six Years, Four Matches, Finally a Milestone Achieved

Mr. Wang entered the hospital on April 7 and completed his stem cell collection on April 11. Fully recovered now, he enjoyed a road trip around Henan during the May Day holiday with friends.

What distinguishes Wang Yance, even among donors, is his unique experience:
He originally registered as a volunteer back in 2019 during university. Over nearly six years, he received four successful match calls; three of these couldn’t proceed due to patient-related circumstances. Finally, he achieved this long-awaited goal during his fourth opportunity.

Given his familiarity with the process of mobilizing injections and peripheral blood collection, hesitation wasn’t part of his journey; determination and persistence were. For Wang, the journey resembled conquering challenges and fulfilling a longstanding wish.

Wang Yance Performing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Collection

Though the difficult phases of injections caused mild discomfort—such as back soreness and nasal congestion—Wang described it with vitality: “It felt like the cells were thriving, continuously multiplying; we jokingly call it ‘growth pains.’”

Reflecting back, he recalls taking his high-speed rail return trip to Xuzhou the day after donating, falling naturally back into his regular rhythm.

Upon completion, Wang shared a succinct message on social media: “No.19799 achievement unlocked!” with a single photo attached.

After successfully donating, Wang Yance shared a post on Moments.

Wang Yance describes himself as an “ISFP” personality type—quiet, pragmatic, and not one for deep reflections or discussions. Instead, he prefers taking action to help specific individuals.

For others, contributing to society might be a vision or a goal; for Wang, it's been a habit cultivated since he turned 18, and one he has repeatedly acted on.

During the summer after graduating high school, Wang marked his coming-of-age by donating blood for the first time. In 2019, while participating in campus volunteer services, he proactively registered his hematopoietic stem cell sample for donation. Two years ago, on his birthday, he also signed up on an organ donation registry, pledging to donate his organs and body after passing away.

Although Wang isn’t a medical student, his university had a medical school, and he understood how much students benefited from learning with “silent mentors” (cadaver donations). He also recognized that not everyone may feel comfortable doing the same. "Someone has to step forward. I signed first, leaving proof of my willingness. Even if that day comes, I can still contribute something meaningful to others."

He also contributes whenever he sees children in need on fundraising platforms like Shuidichou. He regularly follows the charity reading activities organized by TAL Education Group colleagues and hopes to participate in the future.

You won’t hear grand statements from him, as 'helping others' has become second nature to him.

Q: You’ve done so many public welfare acts—do you feel a sense of inner fulfillment afterward?
A: Not especially; it’s nothing extraordinary. If I can help, I’ll do what I can.

Q: Any new insights after this donation?
A: Not really. I don’t place it’s nothing supremely noble.

At TAL Education Group, Wang Yance and Sun Haoran join the ranks of other inspiring individuals as the third and fourth successful hematopoietic stem cell donors in recent years.

My colleague secretly did something big!

I met a coworker at the hospital, and the truth is...

Their actions reflect kindness, bravery, and an active willingness to contribute within their careers and beyond. Together, they illuminate the passions and altruism characteristic of a deeply spirited young generation.