A 13-year-old girl with a congenital heart disorder and a rare blood type, whose plight was highlighted in China Daily on Saturday, underwent successful cardiac surgery yesterday.

"The operation was extremely successful, everything went smoothly. She will recover within two weeks," said Cheng Jinyang, a doctor from Jilin Heart Disease Hospital, who was on the team which performed surgery on the girl, Wang Hong.

After the two-hour surgery, Wang looked pale and wan as she was wheeled out of the operation theatre.

Wang's desperate situation, and plea for blood, struck a chord across the nation.

A suitable donor was found from more than 300 who volunteered to have their blood tested in Changchun, capital of Northeast China's Jilin Province.

At least nine foreigners living in the country and some Hong Kong residents were among those who emailed or called China Daily offering to be donors.

A donation from a soldier based in the city matched Wang's.

Dai Pengliang donated 600 millilitres of blood -- enough for the surgery and for storage at the centre.

A doctor at the Changchun blood centre said only three in 10,000 people have the right Rh-negative AB blood type.

As if Wang's medical plight weren't pitiful enough, she has seen much suffering in her short life.

Her mother abandoned her when she was three, her father suffers from post-polio syndrome and her grandmother who looked after her died last year.

She is currently being cared for by her aunt, Wang Jinian, who was understandably ecstatic.

"I was over excited and could not help crying. I never saw her breathe so smoothly," said Wang, tears of joy streaming down her face.

"I did not imagine that my little niece could survive, let alone live like a healthy person. I thank all the people who have offered help."

One of those who has offered help is Sergio Miranda da Cruz, the Beijing-based representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in China.

He told China Daily: "We are glad to know that one donor has already been identified and we do trust that the girl recovers as soon as possible. In case, however, an additional blood donor is required, my wife would be in a position to provide."

Another is Jean Luc Chirat, a French businessman based in Zhongshan in South China's Guangdong Province.

"I hope that little girl recovers as soon as possible. Do not hesitate to contact me if she needs my help."

Wang suffered from Tetralogy of Fallot which causes the heart to get less oxygen than it needs, leading to dark colouration of the skin and lips.

(China Daily June 10, 2005)