Though a stepmother, she loves her child deeply ■ Reporter Ji Jianghua / Report Kuangye / Photography News: 11-year-old boy Yan Shilong from Lvyuan District in Changchun City has had a tough life. His mother left him when he was two years old, and misfortune struck the child again last August when he suddenly developed acute B-lymphocytic leukemia. In half a year, he has been hospitalized six times and undergone chemotherapy five times, with the pain making this child suffer greatly. Little Long is pitiful, but also fortunate because he has a good stepmother - Sang Haixia. In the eight years that Little Long has lived with his stepmother, his childhood has been just as happy and joyful as other children's. Sang Haixia treats him like her own son, and to this day, Little Long still does not know about his biological origins.
On February 9th, Little Long was hospitalized for the sixth time, and they have already spent over 100,000 yuan. To treat Little Long, the stepmother has sold their house and all valuable items at home. Others have advised Sang Haixia to give up on the treatment, but Sang Haixia said, "Little Long may not be my biological child, but he is my son. As long as there is a little hope, I will never give up."
The Child Has Had Leukemia and Been Hospitalized Six Times in Half a Year
On the afternoon of February 9th, I met Little Long at the added ward 207 on the second floor of the Hematology and Rheumatology Department at the provincial hospital. The 11-year-old Little Long looks very delicate, with his robust body curled up on the bed. His bright big eyes are always staring out the window, with an indwelling needle on his arm and a sickly yellow complexion. Little Long tightly closes his lips, with several scabbed blood blisters on his lower lip, and many dark red bruises on his feet and calves. He has just received a painkiller injection because leukemia causes slow blood coagulation, and Sang Haixia is pressing the needle hole with her hand.
"Last August, we found out he had leukemia, and he has already been hospitalized six times. For half a year, he has mostly been in the hospital, suffering a lot," Sang Haixia choked back tears while telling the reporter. She looks very thin, with a tired appearance, red eyes, and a hoarse voice. "Big Bao, does it still hurt?" Sang Haixia asked if he wanted to eat anything. Little Long weakly shook his head without saying a word.
Doctor Urgently Needs 30,000 Yuan for the Sixth Chemotherapy
I interviewed Director Xiao Zhongping from the Hematology and Rheumatology Department at the provincial hospital. Director Xiao said that Little Long had previously undergone five chemotherapies at another hospital, but from the current situation, his condition has not improved. Currently, Little Long’s hemoglobin levels are very low, with over 100,000 white blood cells, enlarged liver and spleen, and the situation is not optimistic. The pain in Little Long’s legs is due to white blood cell infiltration. Director Xiao said, "The family's financial conditions are limited, and the condition is getting more serious. At present, Little Long needs immediate chemotherapy. The course lasts a month and requires 30,000 yuan. Only after completing the first course can the next treatment plan be determined. If the condition is not stable, consolidation, persistence, and intensification cannot even be discussed." Director Xiao said, "The Red Cross has a special fund for leukemia patients called the Little Angel Fund, and the hospital is helping apply for it, which will take at least half a month, but currently, Little Long's condition cannot wait any longer. The earlier the chemotherapy, the better for Little Long. Only by living is there hope."
Stepmother Feels Guilty Toward the Child
After a while, Little Long fell asleep. Sang Haixia gently covered him with a blanket and quietly told the reporter about Little Long's condition. She said that Little Long suddenly developed a high fever on August 18th last year, with uncontrollable nosebleeds. After checking at the hospital, they learned he had leukemia, "Why is this child so unfortunate? His mother passed away when he was two years old, and now he has this disease..." Sang Haixia shed tears, "When he was three, I married his father. Although he is not my biological child, I treat him like my own son." Sang Haixia said that after marrying Little Long's father, she gave birth to a girl the next year. None of the neighbors, friends, teachers or classmates at Little Long's school knew she was a stepmother, not even her daughter. She said, "At home, Little Long is called Big Bao, and the daughter is called Little Bao. I don't want Big Bao to know. If it weren't for the fact that we really don't have money to treat him and need help from others, I would never tell anyone else." Sang Haixia wiped her tears, "The child got this disease, and as parents, we don't have money to treat him. I feel truly sorry for the child. Sigh! If Big Bao were not sick, our family of four would be together how wonderful..." Sang Haixia choked back tears and could not continue.
In the days Little Long has been hospitalized, people in the same ward have consistently believed they are biological mother and son. When the elderly woman in the neighboring bed and her family learned about this, they were deeply moved. The elderly woman sat up and told the reporter, "Such a young child has such a disease, you must help this child. It's not easy for a stepmother to reach this point!"
Disappointment Faced With Financial Hardship and Medication Cessation
"After Little Long got sick, I and his father sold the house, borrowed several ten thousand yuan from relatives. Now, the child has spent over 100,000 yuan, but there hasn't been much improvement. During the New Year, Little Long kept vomiting. On the sixth day of the New Year, I brought him back to the hospital for another chemotherapy session. Relatives gave the child around 3,000 yuan during the New Year. After being hospitalized for a week, we only have over 1,000 yuan left. Originally, we should give him five intravenous drips a day, but recently, we can only afford two. The child is in unbearable pain, so we asked the doctor to give him a painkiller injection," Sang Haixia told the reporter. Little Long's platelets are very low, and his white blood cells are high. He needs chemotherapy to stabilize his condition, but one course costs 30,000 yuan. "We've borrowed from all the relatives, and there's no more money left. His father works at a private medical equipment factory, working during the day and coming to the hospital at night. His monthly income is only 2,000 yuan. We've sold all the goods at home, but it's still not enough to cover the cost of the child's treatment."
Sang Haixia is very grateful to those who have helped Little Long. She said that last year, Little Long's father's unit leader and colleagues donated 10,000 yuan to the child, and the teachers and students from the Yingbin Road Primary School where Little Long studies donated 14,000 yuan. Relatives gave several ten thousand yuan. In half a year, Little Long underwent five chemotherapies, but his condition did not improve significantly. She doesn't know what to do after the remaining 1,000 yuan is spent.