Arrested in 2015, he was held without trial for a year and then sentenced to two and a half years. Prison doctors underestimated his medical condition, allowing it develop into anaphylactoid purpura.

Guiyang (AsiaNews/China Aid) – Yang Hua, a clergyman detained in Goizhou province (southern China), was admitted to hospital in serious condition on 24 March. His wife, Wang Hongwu, who had not seen him for more than a year, has written a letter appealing to people to pray for his health.

According to reports, Hua had been in hospital between 17 and 20 March because of inflamed ulcers on his legs, which made sleeping all but impossible.  The doctors at the detention facility initially told him that they were pus sores and only gave him painkillers; however, the failure to treat the condition allowed it to spread.

On 23 March, a prosecutor from the Nanming District Court Informed Yang’s lawyers of his condition and advised them to apply for measures to allow Yang to get treatment at another hospital to avoid further complications.

Yang was taken to hospital on 24 March, where he was diagnosed with anaphylactoid purpura, a condition that targets blood vessels in the kidneys, intestines, joints, and skin. The doctor Wang consulted also said she should be aware of the possibility of several side effects, including septicemia, digestive tract hemorrhaging, and kidney damage.

In view of the situation, his lawyers wrote to the local procuratorate, requesting his release on health grounds. According to China Change, the judge in charge of the case has to be consulted.

Yang, also known as Li Guozhi, was arrested for resisting police attempts to destroy a hard drive belonging to a church. He was initially charged with “obstructing justice” and “gathering a crowd to disturb public order” and handed two consecutive, five-day administrative detention sentences; however, on the day of his release, his wife found out that the charges had been changed to “illegally possessing state secrets.”

After this, the authorities held Yang without trial for more than a year, subjecting him to torture and threatening his family members.  He was put on trial on 26 December 2016 and sentenced on 5 January to two and half years in prison, which China Aid president Bob Fu describes as “nothing but purely barbaric religious persecution”.

Here is the letter of Yang Hua’s wife, Wang Hongwu:

Thanks to our gracious Lord, I could meet with Yang Hua on March 24. I was accompanying the lawyer who would soon visit him at the detention center, but I ran into him right in front of the gate of the institution. He had just returned from the provincial hospital. It was the first time we had met in the span of one year, three months, and 15 days. Yang Hua descended slowly from the patrol vehicle with the help of another prisoner. His already hunched back arched even more because of leg pain. We only had time to exchange a few words before he was brought back into the detention center. After conversing with Yang Hua (I had to wait outside during their meeting), the lawyer informed me that Yang Hua would be transferred to the Guiyang 368 Armed Police Hospital and receive treatment, and that I could go see him one more time. Running toward him, I heard the officer yelling “Who is Li Guozhi’s family member?” I answered him, got in the patrol vehicle, and arrived at the Guiyang 368 Armed Police Hospital.

The chief physician told me about Yang Hua’s condition, that the provincial hospital diagnosed him with anaphylactoid purpura. I noticed that Yang Hua’s lower limbs were covered with measles and necrotic dots. His shinbones were full of huge patches of necrosis and effusion, and his feet and ankles were swollen. The doctor also told me that Yang Hua would receive a large amount of hormonal therapy and anti-inflammatory treatments, because the disease was ferocious and deteriorated in only eight days. The hospital delivered a notice of critical condition and told me to be aware of a series of possible side effects: septicemia, alimentary tract hemorrhaging, and kidney damage.

My heart stirred after hearing all of these things. I developed more worries and concerns.

During our brief reunion, Yang Hua told me, “Don’t worry. God is pulling the strings. I am at peace. We haven’t seen each other in a year and three months, but you haven’t changed at all.”

I smiled and answered him, “You haven’t changed either, except that your back is more hunched.”

Thank the Lord for alleviating my sorrows and putting peace in my heart. Although I had not seen Yang Hua for more than a year (we were never parted for more than two months before he was arrested), it all felt like yesterday when he was standing in front of me. No tears. No hysteria. We looked deeply at each other in divine serenity. Although worried, I could still face Yang Hua with joy and tranquility with God’s support.

When we were about to separate, Yang Hua said, “Don’t forget to tell the brothers and sisters to pray for me.”

I answered, “Of course.”

He was again taken away before my eyes.

Lord, I will entrust him to you. From now on, you will be the only one accompanying him, I prayed in my heart.

God’s servant: Wang Hongwu

March 25