Stories of survival and rescue can be heard amid the immense sense of sorrow brought on by the devastating outcome of the Sichuan Earthquake. Miracles of life are all around us and they echo through the Sichuan Mountains. Pu Xiamei's story is one of them.

Pu Xiaomei was a clerk working in the village bank of Hongyan Township, Yuanba District, Guangyuan City, Sichuan. She was 30 years old and had been pregnant for more than four months.

Xiaomei's apartment was on the third floor of the bank building while her office was on the first. The moment when earthquake happened, she was on her way to her apartment. She was so shocked to feel the shaking of the building and so turned back right away.

Xiaomei's husband was wakened from his nap and rushed out of their apartment, calling her wife's name anxiously. He met Xiaomei on the second floor and supported her to run out of the building. Luckily they were safe and sound after fleeing from the falling debris.

All people in the building were able to escape from the building to safety. With another shock, the whole building collapsed into pieces.

In the past few days, Xiaomei could feel the baby moving much more than usual. So, Xiaomei would comfort it more often by putting her hands on her belly.

After the quake, all food was buried in the ruins leaving Xiaomei to rely on instant noodles and snacks alone. "There was no food left in the town, not even an egg. But kind-hearted villagers sent me their only cucumbers and eggplants they found from ruins. I am so moved" said Xiaomei with tears in her eyes.

Yesterday, a health worker of Hongyan Town Clinic conducted an examination for Xiaomei and found her very well. The couple was so glad to learn their baby was fine.

Xiaomei's husband was working out of the town but happened to be with Xiaomei on the day of earthquake. "It is such a good luck that I can now be with my wife and that both of us are safe and sound," he said.

Like other villagers in the town, the couple was left empty-handed after the earthquake. They had to stay in a temporary shelter made of wood and plastic materials picked up from the ruins.

In spite of her pregnancy and tiredness, Xiaomei insisted to help her colleagues with clearing up the cash and important finance documents gathered from among the ruins. It took three days for them to finish this tough work. "The earthquake has destroyed our home. Savings in the village bank are have become the only hope many of the quake affected villagers have left. We can't lose our documents!" said Xiaomei.

Xiaomei has resolved to provide a safe home for his growing family. "Our baby will be born in five months and I will build a house for my child before it comes to this world," he said firmly.

Amidst tribulations brought by the earthquake, Xiaomei and her family will dedicate all their efforts to taking care of the little life gestating during this tough time.

For where there is life, there is always hope. The miracle of life will go.

On the sixth day after the severe earthquake that hit Sichuan province, a World Vision relief team was able to penetrate remote mountain villages to assess damagesin the rural areas.

About 30 kilometers away from Guangyuan City in the northern part of Sichuan, Hongyan Township was a small town in Yuanba District with more than 6,300 inhabitants. All buildings and village houses were seriously damaged in the earthquake and villagers had to stay in simple shelters set up with whatever they could find in the debris.