A teenage boy with a brain tumor signed a will donating his corneas in Nanshan on Wednesday, becoming China's youngest cornea donor so far.

A Shenzhen Economic Daily report said Dong Bin, 18, made the decision after he was told by doctors at Nanshan People's Hospital that there was little hope of recovery.

Dong, from Changle City in Fujian Province, was a technical school student before he joined a Shenzhen company as an intern this year. He suffered sudden headaches in November and was later unable to walk steadily. After medical checks at Nanshan People's Hospital, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Doctors said it was impossible to operate based on present technology as it would greatly endanger the patient's life.

After learning of his condition, Dong told his mother that he wanted to donate his corneas as he wished to "leave something for society."

Dong asked his mother not to take any money for the donation.

On Wednesday, Dong's mother signed a donation agreement on her son's behalf as he was too weak to sign his name.

Dong's mother, who is unemployed, said she had given up all medical treatment for him because she could not afford it. Dong's father died from a cerebral hemorrhage in 2000.

The hospital said it was hard to say how long Dong would live but they would take steps to relieve the boy's pain.

(Shenzhen Daily December 12, 2003)