BEIJING - A 25-year-old woman who had lupus for 11 years and relied on donations for treatment died of multiple organ failure on Sunday in a Beijing hospital.

Huang Nichao had been in intensive care and undergoing kidney dialysis at the Beijing Military General Hospital since Jan 18. Her condition kept worsening. On March 13, she fell into a coma and never regained consciousness.

Raised in a poor, rural household in Meizhou, Guangdong province, Huang wanted to save money and delayed seeking proper treatment until she graduated from Southern Medical University in Guangzhou in June.

Despite an impressive background of scholarships and internships, she could not land a job. Earlier job offers were later withdrawn because of her illness.

Huang's blog describing her struggle with the disease stirred the hearts of many. Volunteers helped her raise 300,000 yuan ($47,450) in donations. With the support of volunteers, who would help her check in at hospitals and take turns looking after her, Huang stayed in Beijing since July.

Her parents came to Beijing on Jan 31. The grieving mother, Lin Meixiang, was in severe shock and passed out several times when the deadly news came from the hospital.

Lin said the family will use the donation fund to pay the medical bills, and if any money is left to buy a burial plot back home.

Guo Zheng, 26, who was moved to help Huang after reading her blog, has become the most active volunteer to assist with fundraising and care-giving.

He said on Monday that the fund dedicated to Huang’s treatment will not accept further donations and an account of how much money was received and how it was used will be released later.

Some earlier donors have joined chat groups on QQ, an instant-messaging service, to learn Huang's updates. Several of them said they were willing to make more donations to Huang's parents and to attend Huang's memorial service.

According to preliminary arrangements, a memorial service will be held on March 21 in Beijing, Guo said.

liyao@chinadaily.com.cn