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2009 April 14
“Asian’s Tallest Female Giant” suffered serious fall

Impoverished family with mother demanding assistance from media, and subsequent municipal government providing help

In the afternoon of April 12, Yao Defan, who is 2.36m tall and titled “Asian’s Tallest Female Giant” suffered a fall while making lunch at home, with the brain suffering damage. She was brought to the provincial hospital by her brother. There are still blood remaining in Yao whose condition is classified stable. During the interviewing by the reporters, they were surprised by demands of Yao’s mother, “If you don’t bring things over, don’t take the pictures. Yao’s brother explained later that the mother-daughter have no economic resources and lead a very impoverished life. Past media often lent a helping hand (when she was frequently features), so the senile mother do have this misguided assumption.

Yao Ming, who stands 2.26 tall and 141kg, is often aided by teammates when he has a fall. However, Yao Defan, who stood even 10cm taller and weigh 180 kg, has no one to turn to when she fell in the kitchen. The 68-years-old mother could only stand helplessly by her beloved daugther’ side on the cement floor.

A dull thump was heard by Yao’s mother, Wei XianYing, on 11am at April 12th when Yao was supposedly making lunch. Wei sensed that “Little Fan” had trouble, and noticed Yao writhing on the floor with blood streaming from her head. She called her son living in Hefei. Hearing about the accident, he immediately booked a car to the town. Around 12, an hour after the incident, Yao’s brother found 6 or 7 adult males who succesffuly lifted her to the local hospital. After the wound was stitched, she was transferred to the provincial hospital of AnHui.

On the evening of the 12th, many specialists from the province checked on the female giant. According ot the specialist, there still remained blood clot and she is not free of danger yet.

On the afternoon of the 13th, reported rushed to the hospital ward. With the nurses leading them to her bed, Yao was fairly quiet when she was provided (IV) and oxygen while on the bad. On the opposite, Yao’s mother was emotionally distubred while seeing the hordes of reported.

She first told the reporters on Yao not wanting to be interviewed. When the reporters assured Wei that only several shots will be taken without flashes, Wei demanded that “no pictures are allowed unless you bring stuffs over”. She repeated multiple times, “NO money or foods, then NO pictures and interviews.” Turning into an embrassing situation, 68-year-old Wei chased the reporters away.

After they were chased out, Yao’s brother followed and explained to the reporters. Ever since being reported, the halo of “Asian’s tallest female giant” rested on Yao, being sought after by media both local and overseas. Quite some such media took pity upon the mother and daughter and used to leave some money after the interviews, giving his mother “false impressions”.

Finally accepting an interview after being persuaded by her son, Wei explained: Before 2004, Yao was still able to work at the performing arts troupe (translator’s note: circus troupe of sort with some dance / acrobatics etc.) and, aside from manage to have meals for her own self, can even bring some money home. However, plagued with illnesses and frequent falls, she had to return home. After the passing away of Yao’s father, the mother and daughter could only live in a small room, depending on each other. They mainly survived on savings of Yao as well as low-income welfare support. Due to her enormous appetite, the mature Yao attempted to reduce her portions to make ends meet.

In these two years, Yao continued to deal with epileptic fits, a consequence of the tumor operation. She needed these pills everyday and the medical expenses is a major expense for the family.

The reporters followed up this issue towards the township, who replied that “her situation, whilst extremely extraordinary, is within control and acknowledged by the government. They expressed that previous additional support was provided, other than the monthly RMB 170 (i.e. ~20 USD) support. Another RMB1000 was provided to the family before the Chinese New Year.

In addition, Yao is qualified for health insurance within the rural village’s policy. Due to Yao and Wei’s educaiton levels, the township will provide on-site assistance to help them process the expense claims. Also, they will attempt to increase her insruance limits as well as appropriate subsidies.
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The Notafji Family
5/ 15/ 2009

Dear Viewer,

Thank you for contacting Discovery Networks. We appreciate your interest
in our program World’s Tallest Woman.

Yao Defen’s giant stature was caused by a large tumor in her pituitary
gland. Six years ago, a hospital in Guangzhou Province removed the tumor,
and she stopped growing. The tumor returned and she was treated in
Shanghai in 2007, but was sent home for six months with the hope that
medication would reduce her tumor enough to allow surgery. It remains
unknown if the second surgery was ever performed.

Again, thank you for your interest in our programming.

Sincerely,

Viewer Relations
Discovery Networks

It seems to me that no one bothered to follow up on her condition after this program was aired. If they show it again, anyone interested in knowing about or helping this poor woman should get the name of the doctor who actually wanted to treat her and trace her through him. That’s what I’ll try to do as well.

Anyway, I hope that she finally got her treatment.

Yao received ‘limited treatment’ from the Shanghai hospital in 2006 and stayed at home after that. ( I think it means no surgery was underwent) She didn’t grow much in these 2 years due to malnutrition. She is suffering from intestine disease, epilepsy, etc.. She and her family is still in serious poverty. Beside getting rid of this terrible disease, she also wants to make a ‘real’ friend.

As many of you, I also hope she and her family will do well in the future.