For the family of Wenwen, a 2-year-old girl in Gansu province, congenital heart disease (CHD) was a term they had never heard before. This changed in April 2024.
“Wenwen used to catch colds all the time; sometimes it turned into bronchitis,” her father recalled. “We thought it was just seasonal. No doctor had told us it was something more serious.”
One year later, Wenwen is recovering from heart surgery.
Like many children in rural Gansu, Wenwen and her two older siblings live with their grandparents most of the year. Her parents work far away to support the household, leaving the family to unite only during the annual Spring Festival. For them, a major medical treatment was far beyond what they could afford.
Last spring, the medical team of Heart for Heart Program, a charitable initiative launched by ConocoPhillips China (COPC) to reduce the CHD rate for children in underserved areas, arrived in Gansu to conduct free screenings. During this visit Wenwen’s condition was diagnosed. In May 2024, she and her parents traveled to Tianjin for the free surgery that cured her disease.
“We never imagined it could happen so fast,” her father said, “From surgery to recovery, everything was completed in just four days.”
Now, as spring blooms once again outside her window, Wenwen is entering a new season of life. With her heart beating strong, a future full of hope has begun.
CHD, a heart problem present at birth, has been the leading cause of death among newborn babies for many years. It is estimated that about two million Chinese children suffer from the disease, six to eight of every 1,000 newborns. While China has made progress in CHD prevention and treatment, due to structural disparities in medical resources between urban and rural areas, treating CHD in underdeveloped regions faces significant challenges: inadequate access to early screening, no specialized doctors nearby and limited resources to diagnose and seek treatment.
COPC saw the gap, and decided to help fill it. In 2008, the company partnered with TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital (TICH) in Tianjin to launch the “Heart for Heart” program.
“Every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy even in the face of difficult realities. We believe no child with CHD should be left behind,” said COPC HR and Communications Vice President Lydia Zhou. “The Heart for Heart program brings together the efforts of all parties to improve the accessibility of CHD health services in China, especially in places where it’s needed most.”
These efforts are changing lives. Since 2008, the program has helped more than 730 children from 16 provinces and autonomous regions across China. In 2023, COPC celebrated the 15th anniversary of the “Heart for Heart” charity program.
The path to treating CHD is rarely easy, especially in remote regions where medical resources are limited and families are burdened with financial challenges. But barriers, no matter how steep, are not insurmountable.
In 2017, COPC took another step in CHD treatment by donating a medical screening vehicle to TICH. This mobile medical van brings CHD medical experts and screening services directly to the doorsteps of rural communities. The van has traveled more than 40,000 kilometers across China, including Gansu, Qinghai and other remote and high-altitude areas, bringing vital access to early diagnosis for children with CHD.
Sometimes, even when help is within reach, unexpected challenges arise. In 2021, Xiao Xi, then an 18-year-old high school senior from Tianshui, Gansu province, was preparing for her most important academic test, the college entrance exam, when a routine check-up brought her plans to a halt. Diagnosed with CHD just weeks before her exam, she learned that the condition was treatable through surgery. The Heart for Heart program, however, typically supports children under the age of 14. At 18, Xiao Xi was not eligible.
Her parents were devastated. Her father, a construction worker, and her mother, a farmer, had no way to afford the costly procedure. When the COPC and TICH team learned about Xiao Xi’s case and her unwavering commitment to education, they made a special request for an exemption. “What we saw in her was not just a patient, but a student with incredible resilience and a future worth fighting for,” said Miki Wang, COPC volunteer who was there on the screening trip.
On June 16, 2021, just one week after completing her college entrance exam, Xiao Xi traveled to Tianjin. The next day, she underwent a successful CHD repair surgery.
“She’s always been a fighter,” her father said, “We worried about how to afford her treatment. Now, she’s been given a second chance both in health and life.”
Xiao Xi is now a senior in college, eagerly preparing to embrace the next chapter of her life.
While treating a child’s illness is important, equipping the medical professionals who take care of them creates lasting impact. In 2013, COPC partnered with Children’s HeartLink (CHL) to launch the “Creating Hope for Heart” medical training program at three of China’s CHD treatment medical institutions, Sichuan West China Hospital, TICH, and Qingdao Women and Children’s Hospital. This program has trained more than 2,000 cardiovascular professionals, and these doctors and nurses have gone on to treat more than 10,000 children across China.
Charity is not limited to financial and medical support. From field screenings to hospital visits, COPC employee volunteers are a steady presence in the lives of CHD families. They help families complete paperwork and guide them through medical consultations. During patient visits, they listen to each question and provide companionship. In the hospital, they share stories, laughter and encouragement that eases the anxiety in young patients’ eyes.
Benjie Zhang, a COPC employee, recalled one pre-surgery visit. “I met a 4-year-old girl who should’ve been playing outside like other kids,” he said. “But her heart condition kept her from joining in sports classes or running with her friends. Seeing her prepare for surgery, I knew this program was changing her life and giving her a future.”
During a screening trip, Helena Jia, another COPC employee volunteer, summarized the program’s impact: “While assisting parents with the application form, they repeatedly asked if the surgery was genuinely free. Their palpable relief when I assured them that all expenses were covered made me realize the tangible difference our company is making. I am proud to be part of this initiative.”
COPC has donated close to RMB 20 million to the CHD program. From the northwestern reaches of Gansu and Qinghai to the mountains of Tibet and Guangxi in the southwest, the 17-year journey has left a trail of hope across the country.
“The smiles on these children’s faces are our greatest reward,” said COPC President Markel Hübinette. “But we know there is still much more to be done. Looking ahead, we will continue working hand in hand with our partners to extend care to children with CHD in remote regions and make more contributions to a future where every child has the chance for a healthier life.”