When Asim Mushtaq visited him, Cai Liuxin, director of the Department of General Surgery at the Qiantang branch of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, immediately recognized him.

Asim Mushtaq poses for a photo with Doctor Cai Liuxin and his team at the Department of General Surgery at the Qiantang branch of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine. [Photo/chinanews.com]

The Pakistani student not only wanted to tell Cai he had received his doctoral degree with the medical team who had saved his life three years ago, but also hoped to become a medical volunteer at the hospital to serve the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 and repay the kindness he had received.

Mushtaq recalled that three years ago, shortly after arriving in China for his studies, he suddenly felt pain in his upper abdomen. At first, he thought it was just a simple stomach ache and took painkillers. However, two days later, his symptoms suddenly became unusually severe and the medication did not provide significant relief, which made him extremely anxious as a newcomer to China.

Mushtaq was sent to doctor Cai's hospital and a CT scan revealed that he had multiple large gallstones in his gallbladder and acute inflammation. Cai detailed Mushtaq about his condition and he had surgery a few days later.

Due to Cai and his team's skills and experience, the surgery was completed in just 30 minutes, and five gallstones were removed from his gallbladder. The entire surgical process resulted in only a three-centimeter scar and less than one milliliter of bleeding.

The young man felt it was "magic", whether it was the hospital's advanced minimally-invasive technology or the care given to him by the medical staff, making him more excited about studying in China.

He has since published six academic papers as the primary author and applied for two patents. In March of this year, he obtained his doctoral degree from Zhejiang Sci-Tech University and will proceed with postdoctoral research at the College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University.

"In my heart, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital at Zhejiang University is the epitome of Hangzhou. The city is friendly, open, and inclusive. Its modern and international atmosphere is very impressive," Mushtaq said.