Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
In 2011, 17-year-old Wang Shangkun from China craved the newest iPhone 4 and iPad 2 so badly, he made a decision that would forever alter his future.
Lured by organ traffickers online, Wang secretly agreed to sell one of his kidneys, believing one was enough for survival. The promise: quick cash, quick gadgets.
The operation happened in a back-alley clinic in Hunan. No sterilization, no proper care—just a crude removal that left Wang’s body vulnerable to infection.
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For a brief moment, Wang returned home as a local hero with his shiny iPhone and iPad. But behind the glow of screens was a silent storm brewing inside him.
Within months, his lone kidney started failing. Doctors discovered irreversible damage, with only 25% kidney function left—his health collapsing as fast as his excitement faded.
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What seemed like a one-time trade turned into lifelong punishment. Today, at 31, Wang survives only through dialysis, tied to machines that keep him alive.
Wang’s story highlights the darker side of tech obsession—how consumer culture and the lure of status symbols can push desperate teens to unimaginable extremes.
Now, Wang openly shares his tale to warn others: illegal organ selling is not just crime—it’s a death sentence disguised as quick money.
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The iPhone and iPad that once felt priceless came at the ultimate cost. Wang’s life is a reminder that chasing trends can sometimes mean losing everything.