China Southern Airlines holds Special Surprise for Anti-SARS Heroes

China Southern Airlines recently presented a special gift to more than two dozen medical officers from the First Army Medical University during the recently concluded SARS battle.

For 49 days (beginning from May 5), the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was rampant throughout Beijing, placing the capital in a state of emergency. Following the guidelines of the Central Military Commission of the PRC, more than two dozen medical officers from the First Army Medical University in Southern China, were rushed to Beijing for posting at the Xiao Tang Shan Hospital.

Now with the epidemic fully under control throughout China and the world, these heroes were flying home to a triumphant family reunion.

On board China Southern Airlines' Boeing 777 aircraft some 30,000 feet high … eighteen passengers sat dispersedly in rows one through four in the cabin's Economy Class. Among these passengers were seniors (well above 60 years  old), babies gently rocked by their mothers and still others garbed in green military clothing.

At 9:00 a.m., China Southern Airlines' state-of-the-art Boeing 777 aircraft took off at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport with these passengers on board. After arriving at Beijing Capital Airport at 11: 30, this same aircraft departed an hour later right back to Guangzhou.

Some 30 minutes earlier, brandishing the flag of the First Army Medical University, they stepped lively through the lounge of Beijing's Capital Airport before boarding the spacious aircraft exclusively reserved by China Southern Airlines.

They had been separated from their family members for more than a month and they were hurrying home to Southern China … not knowing that their family members were waiting for them less than 10 feet away!

Two days earlier, China Southern flight attendants worked "feverishly" to prepare the cabin for these medical corps physicians and nurses. These self same flight attendants used their own money to purchase crepe paper and fold more than 100 paper cranes which they hung along the PremiumEconomy baggage, as well as balloons, 777 airplane models and welcome home signs.

Once the flight departed Beijing Capital Airport, passengers in the rear cabin began their countdown chant and rushed forward in joyous reunion.

Then … screams and tears of joy.

Men and women, old and young, standing in the aisles of the Economy Class drew back the curtains and rushed forward into the heart of the 777 aircraft, shouting and throwing themselves on the green-clad figures.

China's newest medical heroes opened their eyes - gaping - seeing right in front of them and calling them by name were the family members they missed so much when they were in the dangerous frontline of fighting SARS.

And these were the same family members these medical personnel were rushing south to Guangzhou to meet!

Head Nurse, Wang Xiaoyan took hold of her daughter Zaozao handed over from two rows of seats away by her husband and kissed her over and over …

One military officer's mother, whose photo was carried in a front-page Guangzhou newspaper feature as she was seen with tears in her eyes - wrapped her arms wide around her daughter Ma Jie - who likewise threw herself into her mother's arms.

Mother and daughter hugging each other and crying …

"Ah, Raorao, I missed you so much!" said a tearful Nurse Yao Cuiping, as she grabbed her months-old daughter from the hands of her mother-in-law - kissing her endlessly and screaming again and again, "My baby can still recognize me. My baby can still recognize me …"

Wu Baoping, who led the medical officer team, saw his wife and 12-year-old son Wu Wen walking towards him with a large bouquet of flowers in their arms. In fear that the flower store would not be open early in the morning, they bought the flowers the night before. Now these same flowers were in full bloom.

The husband of Wang Xiaoyan brought her a pillow. When he called his wife earlier that week, he learned that she had a stiff neck due to fatigue and the endless hours caring for the SARS-stricken patients. He said that he would bring a pillow to Beijing, which made Xiaoyan happy but thought it only as word of comfort. She hadn't expected the unexpected …

This simple, touching human event was one not mandated by government agencies but a simple gift from China Southern Airlines - a scene of laughter, of tears, of joy and hope at 30,000 feet which created a memory that will last a lifetime.