In 2011, a 17-year-old boy from rural Anhui Province sold one of his kidneys to buy an iPhone 4 and an iPad 2. Fourteen years later, that decision has left him bedridden and dependent on dialysis, turning what was once a viral story into a lifelong tragedy.
The Origin of the “Sell a Kidney for an iPhone” Joke
Every time Apple unveils a new iPhone, jokes resurface online about having to “sell a kidney” to afford one. Few realize that the phrase stems from a very real – and devastating – case.
In 2011, Wang Shangkun, a high school student, was captivated by the newly released iPhone 4. Many of his classmates already owned one, but his poor family could not afford such a luxury. When Wang encountered an online stranger offering money in exchange for a kidney, he accepted, believing he could live normally with just one.
The illegal operation, performed under unsanitary conditions, earned Wang around 20,000 yuan (USD $3,200) – just enough to buy the coveted iPhone 4 and iPad 2. When he brought the devices home, his mother’s suspicions quickly unraveled the truth.
“I asked him how he could afford something so expensive. He finally admitted, ‘Mom, I sold my kidney,’” she later recalled.
A Life-Altering Mistake
Doctors had assured Wang that he would recover within weeks. Instead, he developed a severe infection, and his remaining kidney began to fail. Within months, he was hospitalized with irreversible health damage.
In 2012, authorities dismantled the organ trafficking ring, and Wang’s family received 1.48 million yuan (about USD $210,000 at the time) in compensation. But no amount of money could restore his health.
Now, at 31, Wang is classified as 75% disabled. He spends most of his life bedridden, undergoing regular dialysis treatments to survive. Chronic complications such as fever, exhaustion, and blood in his urine have made hospital visits routine.
A Regret That Lasts a Lifetime
Looking back, Wang admits his decision was fueled by ignorance and the pressure to keep up with his peers. “I regret it deeply. It was a mistake that destroyed my future,” he told local media. His mother added with heartbreak, “If only I had bought him the phone back then, maybe he would never have chosen this path.”
A Cautionary Tale Beyond China
Despite China’s ban on organ sales since 2007, black-market trafficking has persisted. Wang’s case has become a global cautionary tale, referenced whenever Apple launches a new model.
Even as recently as 2022, during the release of the iPhone 14, Thailand’s Red Cross urged people not to risk their health for luxury gadgets.
Wang’s story remains a stark reminder of the dangerous mix of consumerism, peer pressure, and lack of awareness—how one impulsive choice for status symbol technology turned into a lifetime of suffering.
Related
Discover more from Vietnam Insider
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Source: Vietnam Insider