Chin-Te Liao was always brave. His mother Li-Ling said, "By giving him the name 'Chin-Te' we hoped he could advance his virtue [Chin means to advance, Te means virtue]." Chin-Te didn't let anyone down. Whenever he fell down, he stood right back up. At age seven during summer vacation, Chin-Te was found in a hotel swimming pool but it was too late. He remained on a respirator for more than 20 hours. His parents decided to donate Chin Te's tissues to fulfill someone else's wishes, and his corneas to give sight and demonstrate his love to the world.

Chin-Te's Story

In the small, simple town of Xiluo, Taiwan lived an honest couple and their two adorable children, Chin-Te Liao and his sister. Chin-Te was always brave. Even when he was small, he made those close to him feel at ease. His mother Li-Ling explained that "by giving him the name 'Chin-Te' we hoped he could advance his virtue [Chin means to advance, Te means virtue]."

Chin-Te didn't let anyone down. No matter how injured he was he didn't cry. Whenever he fell down, he stood right back up.

During one vacation in July 2003, Xue Yong took the family on a trip to eastern Taiwan. It was dark when they arrived at the hotel to rest. But seven-year-old Chin-Te and his sister saw the swimming pool and wanted to swim.

"For us, July 14 was an unforgettable night," recalled Li-Ling. "As we were getting ready to inflate the swimming gear, our daughter went into the water first and we couldn't find Chin-Te. After a few minutes he was carried out of the pool and his dad performed CPR on him. But when we got to the hospital, we knew it was too late."

For more than 20 hours at the hospital, Chin-Te remained unconscious on a respirator. The next afternoon, the doctor confirmed his parents' worst fears, saying "We've done the best we could do."

Later Li-Ling told her husband that "although Chin Te is leaving us, I want to send him to Tzu Chi Hospital for tissue donation." Both agreed to donate their son's tissues and corneas to fulfill someone else's wishes. At the Tzu Chi Hospital, the superintendent was ready to welcome Chin-Te: "You are a little angel. You made a good decision."