On May 14 came this video and story from CNN about 2 particular victims found in the rubble following the devastating earthquake in China:

The Associated Press followed up yesterday…

A little over a month ago, Zhang Xiaoyan lay in the rubble of her earthquake-shattered apartment building. Trapped for more than 50 hours, she prayed for the life of her unborn child.
“Even if I didn’t make it, I just wanted my baby to survive,” she said. “I was holding out hope during the earthquake that this day would come.”

baby love slide 1.JPG

That day was Wednesday, when Zhang’s daughter was born by Caesarean section….
Zhang’s dramatic rescue… captured in photos and video footage that made their way around the globe – was a rare bright spot after the May 12 earthquake that… killed almost 70,000 people.
Emergency workers trying not to bring down the rest of the pancaked, seven-story building pulled out Zhang, 35. A bulldozer had to raise its scoop 18 feet so workers could lay her in it. As they did, a rescuer raised a thumbs-up to the crowd of neighbors, who cheered and clapped.
The image of the eight-month pregnant Zhang being carried on a stretcher – her stomach protruding from under a blue sweater and pink pants – was played on TV screens and newspapers across China as well as in media abroad. Her 63-year-old mother also was pulled out alive….
Zhang… remarkably suffered only superficial injuries. “Because we were buried in there, we didn’t know if we’d ever get out, and I was just thinking, ‘Save my child. Save my child.'”
Zhang named her 7# 4oz girl “Ai,” or “Love,” in honor of the rescuers and other strangers who have showered her with kindness, gifts and VIP treatment since she was pulled out of the wreckage.

baby love slide 21.JPG

Because Zhang spent 50 hours trapped in the partially collapsed building, doctors said her unborn child initially suffered some dehydration and low blood sugar. By the time of her birth Wednesday, however, she had improved and doctors said she was healthy….
Because of the publicity stemming from her rescue, Zhang became something of a celebrity. She was flown first-class… and was given a private room in the maternity hospital.
Doctors and nurses, who clearly were moved by Zhang’s saga, donated clothing to her and her mother to replace items lost in the quake. The staff also gave gifts for the baby: clothes, a stroller, a tiny bathtub, bottles, shampoo, lotion and wipes. Her room also contained gifts of fruit and a bowl of hard-boiled eggs, dyed red for good luck….

Now why was it the rescue of a pregnant mother warranted more attention and happiness than the rescue of others?
[HT: proofreader Laura Loo; photos courtesy of the AP]

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