People become heroes in the most unlikely places. For Lou Xiaoying it was the garbage dumps of eastern
China. There in 1972, while searching for
recyclable rubbish to resell, she found her first baby. In total Lou has saved 30 abandoned babies, dumped
like trash amidst the trash. She and her
late husband adopted four, and found homes for the other 26 with family and
friends.
Lou has not let her material poverty or advanced age limit her charity. She brought home and adopted her last child
when she was 82 years-old, and is raising him with the help of her 49 year-old
daughter.
What’s almost as stunning as Lou Xiaoying’s generosity is the fact that the
Chinese government has allowed her story to be reported. Her life’s mission, and the lives she’s saved
over the years while simply trying to make a living, has shed new light on the
consequences of China’s one-child policy.
It is a conservative estimate that 36,000 abortions occur every day in China, and untold numbers
of newborn babies are abandoned as couples try to comply with the policy and
avoid harsh penalties. Female
infanticide remains a particular problem.
Lou Xiaoying’s initial goal was survival, not heroism. But by choosing to embrace life in the
garbage dumps of eastern China and sacrificing to save what is most precious
and valuable, she has challenged the culture of death in her country---and
given the world a reason to hope in humanity.
Lou Xioaying is a hero you
should know. And I’m Dr. Ross Porter.
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