Each time she read the reports of "Warm New Guangzhou" in Express, Li Yanfei was deeply moved.
Li Yanfei, a young volunteer working as a temp worker, hoped that warm-hearted people could help her ease the medicine cost difficulties.
Warm Appeal
28-year-old Li Yanfei was a temp worker at a hospital and also a disabled volunteer of the Guangzhou Youth Volunteers Association. Due to her father's sudden illness and inability to pay for medical expenses, she began learning computer skills and posted a plea for help on Tianya Community, hoping to save her father's life.
On the evening of the fifth day of the Chinese New Year, Li Huichun from Linchen Town, Huazhou City suddenly became restless and pale. He was later diagnosed with multiple disease complications and transferred to Sun Yat-sen University Second Hospital in Guangzhou for treatment, costing over 50,000 yuan. To rescue her father from the illness, Li Yanfei and her four siblings worked hard to raise medical fees. With the help of friends, the helpless Li Yanfei learned how to use the internet and on March 1st, under the username "Helpless Fei," she posted a plea for help on Tianya Community, drawing attention from many netizens.
Caring for Her Sick Father with Strength but Powerlessness
Last weekend, a reporter from Express met this strong disabled volunteer - Li Yanfei at Sun Yat-sen University Second Hospital. By the time the reporter saw her, it was already noon. As a temp worker at the hospital, she could only work while taking care of her father. Upon hearing that a journalist and volunteers were coming, she hurried back to the ward, tears welling up before she even spoke. "The hospital has issued another payment notice, requiring 6000 yuan."
Li Yanfei said that when she was three months old, an accidental fire at home burned off her right foot, leaving her reliant on a prosthetic limb to walk ever since. "After a long time, the joint will be rubbed raw, causing unbearable pain, making me limp." After her father was transferred to Guangzhou for treatment, she dragged her sick legs around trying to raise money, borrowing from all her classmates and friends, yet still unable to gather enough for the medical costs.
Her father, Li Huichun, lay in bed with emaciated limbs, dark complexion, occasionally emitting groans from his throat. "Recently, dad has been able to drink porridge, although he still cannot digest it." Li Yanfei's younger brother, Li Kun Chao, remained by the bedside, keeping track of every little improvement in his father's condition.
Returning Society's Help by Helping Others
Everyone who knows Li Yanfei says she is a warm-hearted person. In her spare time, she joined the Guangzhou Youth Volunteers Association, consistently helping the disabled and weak, and even volunteered at the Yuexiu District Library for a year. Speaking about her motivation, Li Yanfei felt deeply moved: "I am a disabled person myself, and I have been helped by kind-hearted people in the past. As long as I have a bit of strength, I want to give back to society." She said that regardless of the outcome of her current plea for help, she would continue to serve the lonely and disabled as she always has.
At one point, Li Huichun requested to abandon treatment, but Li Yanfei was resolute: "There is only one father, and we will have opportunities to earn money in the future. No matter what price we pay, we must save our father."
When her father was first hospitalized, Li Yanfei's mother also fell ill at home, fearing her worry, the children concealed their father's condition. "Mom doesn't eat or drink all day, we are afraid she can't handle it, so we just say that dad will come home after the surgery." Thinking of her mother, Li Yanfei was also worried, "Her health is not good, and she can't take too much stimulation."
According to the doctor, Li Huichun's current physical condition is unsuitable for surgery and requires three months of hospital recuperation. Conservatively estimated, daily treatment costs will exceed 1000 yuan. "I hope someone can help me, help a daughter fulfill her wish to save her father's life," Li Yanfei said.
"Even though doctors had clearly stated that the mortality rate of this disease is very high and the cost is enormous, possibly tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of yuan, we remain steadfast. As long as there is a glimmer of hope, we will not give up, abandon, or desert, because this is the only thing we can do as children!"
- Excerpted from Li Yanfei's online article (Editor: SN021)