Picture caption: Whenever Xuanxuan cries, her father Zhang Zongwei will hold her and sing to cheer her up. Picture caption: Netizens posted online photos of the father feeding Xuanxuan. Picture caption: Due to the effects of the illness, Xuanxuan often cries loudly. Picture caption: In order to raise medical expenses, every evening Xuanxuan's father Zhang Zongwei goes out to beg, hoping for help from kind-hearted people.
Reporters Qiao Li and Cao Lei from Oriental Network reported on July 6th that congenital biliary atresia, unable to secrete bile, requiring a liver transplant... Such suffering has befallen a cute baby girl named Xuanxuan who is only one year and two months old. Recently, reporters from Oriental Network visited Renji Hospital in Shanghai where Xuanxuan was staying. Outside, the world was bathed in bright sunshine with intense heat, but inside the ward, it was pale. At that moment, the yellowish and thin girl lying in bed was sleeping soundly, as if without any pain, but her parents by her side were full of heartache and worry. For medical expenses, this young family born after 1985 had already incurred heavy debts, leaving the helpless father no choice but to beg on the streets.
The 14-month-old baby weighs only 14 pounds
On the 14th floor of the surgical building of Renji Hospital's Liver Transplant Center in bed 11, reporters from Oriental Network met little Xuanxuan, whose skin was wax yellow, her body emaciated, but her belly was swollen. The child's mother told reporters from Oriental Network that due to inability to absorb nutrients, the child's weight hasn't increased since she was six months old. Although she is already 14 months old, her weight is only 7 kilograms.
The young mother before us, with big eyes, is only 22 years old. During our conversation, she occasionally mentioned some interesting stories about her child, smiling all the while, "My baby is really cute when awake, and looks beautiful when laughing." But when talking about her child's suffering, it is evident she is trying hard to suppress her sorrow, "She is too thin, making blood tests very difficult. Sometimes during injections, she cries and I cry along with her."
The father of the child, Zhang Zongwei, told reporters from Oriental Network that the child's current condition is still quite serious, one manifestation being extreme excitability. "She doesn't sleep until after midnight every night, wakes up at five in the morning, and likes to scream continuously, as if using up all her energy."
Since she was four months old, they have been constantly seeking treatment
Mr. and Mrs. Zhang got married in 2009, and Xuanxuan is their first child. They met while working in Shenzhen and returned to their hometown afterward to take over a small store selling digital products. "Originally, our family was in the middle-income level locally, not particularly wealthy, but we were very happy," said Mr. Zhang.
However, in September 2010, the couple noticed that their daughter just four months old began to develop a yellowish complexion and eyes, thus starting their journey of seeking medical help. From the initial county health care center, to hospitals in Mianyang, Chengdu, and Chongqing, they took their child everywhere. The disease was not cured, and the child became increasingly emaciated. Finally, in Chongqing, Xuanxuan's condition was diagnosed; she suffered from biliary atresia, which had progressed to late-stage cirrhosis, requiring a liver transplant. On the evening of June 25th, the couple brought their last hope and borrowed 20,000 yuan, and came to Renji Hospital in Shanghai with their daughter.
"My daughter has not had a single good day since she was more than 40 days old," sighed Xuanxuan's father Zhang Zongwei. Since the birth of the child, this family has had only one goal: to cure the child's illness. "Previously, we had many aspirations, hoping to earn more money and improve our lives, but now, our only dream is to raise the child to adulthood."
"Friends advised us to abandon the child"
Both said that their combined monthly income was only about 3,000 yuan, and the earlier examinations and treatments had already cost nearly 100,000 yuan. Currently, the approximately 130,000 yuan required for surgery has left them breathless. To raise funds, Xuanxuan's grandfather far away in Mianyang went to construction sites to earn money by carrying bricks.
"In fact, back home, there were people who suggested we abandon the child. But how could I do such a thing!" Speaking of this, Xuanxuan's mother's eyes reddened. Because the father's weight was too high and did not meet the liver donation requirements, she decided to donate part of her liver to save her beloved daughter. She has already completed pre-surgery related checks. Initially, relatives in Sichuan strongly opposed the decision, and both couples worked hard to convince them. "They are worried about me, I know it will affect my health, but I hope to save my daughter."
During our conversation, little Xuanxuan woke up. Seeing strangers in the ward, she immediately burst into tears. Her mother beside her said, "Every time she sees a stranger, she cries, the reason being heartbreaking - because she has been in the hospital all the time, she thinks seeing a stranger means someone will give her an injection or draw blood, so she gets scared."
No way to raise money, father takes to begging on the street
Because there was no way to raise money, the father decided to beg on the street. He made a cardboard sign himself, detailing Xuanxuan's condition. However, taking this step proved to be extremely difficult. The first time he begged, Zhang Zongwei sat frozen on the roadside for a long time, even hiding the cardboard sign, afraid of being seen by others. "But later I thought it through, as long as it helps save my daughter, I am willing to do anything."
However, these days, Zhang Zongwei has not gained much from his efforts, sometimes earning nothing in a whole day. "Many people don't believe me, and some even scold me for being young and capable of doing other things rather than coming out to deceive others." Actually, at first, he wanted to bring Xuanxuan along. "But the child catches cold easily, and it's too hot outside. She can't handle sudden changes in temperature."
Many families with sick children give up treatment due to costs
Oriental Network consulted the hospital side, Assistant Director Song Yu of Renji Hospital's Liver Transplant Center stated that Xuanxuan's current condition is relatively stable and suitable for transplantation surgery. Since this center is currently one of the best hospitals in China for liver transplants, including pediatric live donor liver transplants, Xuanxuan's situation is relatively optimistic.
However, Doctor Song also admitted that during their treatment process, they encountered many similar cases where families ultimately chose to abandon treatment, for one reason: the financial burden was too heavy. After successful surgery, subsequent examination fees and medication costs are also a significant amount. "Even if everything stabilizes, the basic annual medication cost is around 20,000 yuan, and some children require even more."
After learning about Xuanxuan's family situation, the hospital decided to control and reduce medical expenses as much as possible, and contacted charitable organizations in society, hoping to help Xuanxuan.
Netizens have already taken action!
In fact, the earliest people to know about Xuanxuan's story were a group of enthusiastic netizens from Mianyang, Sichuan Province. They posted an initiative on the Sichuan Online forum, simultaneously establishing a QQ group to rescue little Xuanxuan, and posting messages on well-known forums such as Baidu Tieba and Tianya, hoping more people would see and contribute donations.
Before publishing this article, the Shanghai contact person for the rescue of little Xuanxuan QQ group, Mr. He, got in touch with reporters from Oriental Network. He said that through the kindness of netizens, they have raised more than 20,000 yuan in donations in recent days. He hopes everyone can join hands to help this adorable little girl overcome the difficulties in her life.
Just as written in the initiative, the help from loving individuals will be like a spring breeze, bringing the warmest sunlight to Xuanxuan's family life, igniting the dawn of hope in their hearts like sparks. No other wishes, only the desire for the child to recover and grow up healthy! Comments welcome.