Ms. Qiu and her two twin children.
■Text and Pictures: Xin Kuai Daily reporter Zhi zhen Pan, Wen Zhou, Interns Xingchen Wu, Dan Zeng
■Warmth Code 59
" My husband and I are very united; we must save our children, and let them live well."
Warmth Appeal
Qiu Minlan lives on Zhixing Road. Due to the cerebral palsy of her twin sons, she has resigned from work for many years to take care of the children at home. The family's income is only 1100 yuan per month from low-income subsidies, plus a few hundred yuan from her husband's odd jobs. The rehabilitation treatment and medication for the children cost more than 1000 yuan per month, making life very difficult for the family of four. Their greatest wish is to receive drug donations.
If possible, she would endure all the pain and suffering for her son; if possible, she would rather her son be away from her protection and support a piece of blue sky. For this reason, for a full ten years, Qiu Minlan has been inseparable from her cerebral palsy sons, taking meticulous care of them. "Letting them fly is a dream, but it is still far from realization," she said helplessly. To save their children, the couple has tried every possible way, but with a monthly low-income of more than 1000 yuan, they can hardly guarantee the children's rehabilitation treatment.
For ten years, she has never shopped to save money for treatment
When Xiao Ming (pseudonym) and Xiao Hui (pseudonym) were born, Ms. Qiu and her husband were truly happy. But soon, they found that the children's motor skills lagged behind normal children. After going to the hospital for a check-up, they were diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The couple cried together in despair, "Why do such young children have to get this disease? What will happen in the future?" Looking at their innocent children and their bright eyes, Qiu Minlan knew she could not give up. "My husband and I are very united, we must save our children, and let them live well." In order to take care of the children, Qiu Minlan resolutely quit her job.
In the past ten years, under her mother's careful care, the once infantile cerebral palsy babies have become two little "men". Although they are only ten years old, they are taller than their peers. However, due to the sequelae of cerebral palsy, both brothers have already put on glasses. Qiu Minlan told reporters that she and the children have worked hard, but after studying for a long time, they still only know how to write some simple numbers and cannot even write their own names.
"They love watching cartoons the most. After watching, they start fighting and make a mess at home." On either side, Qiu Minlan lovingly patted her sons' heads and pretended to be angry saying: "(The sons) don't understand anything, sometimes they even open the gas valve as a toy! For their safety, I have to be with them all the time." In order to take care of her sons, Qiu Minlan did not go out to work. Every morning after getting up, she helps the children dress and wash up, then walks them to the special education school. Rushing back home, she has to tidy up the house. For many years, she has not gone out shopping, "Not going out or shopping is to save money for my sons' treatment."
Rehabilitation medicine costs thousands per month
Qiu Minlan's husband is 53 years old this year. Despite his disabled right hand, he has persisted for ten years, supporting the family with his income from odd jobs. "Now I help others watch the shop, and I earn a few hundred yuan a month. He doesn't want to rest, wanting to earn more so the children can eat better." Qiu Minlan said sadly that in order for the children to sleep well, her husband hasn't slept in the bedroom for many years, "We only have a public house of 25 square meters. I sleep with the children in the inner room, while he sleeps on the partition in the living room." Originally, Qiu Minlan's family could apply for low-rent housing, but after careful consideration, she gave it up. "Low-rent housing is far away, and the children need to take a bus to school, which would be another significant expense every month."
They can save money on everything, but they have never given up treating their children. The rehabilitation treatment drugs needed by Xiao Ming and Xiao Hui cost more than 1000 yuan per month, especially Xiao Ming, who was weaker when he was born, often catching colds and coughing, resulting in higher medical expenses. All these expenses weigh heavily on the couple. Qiu Minlan told reporters that almost all of the 1100 yuan monthly low-income subsidy goes to the children. "Other expenses rely on my husband's income. Sometimes after they go to school, I also work part-time to earn more money to ensure the children's medication."
Her greatest hope is for the children to get better quickly: "Even if they can learn to eat and dress themselves..." She held back her tears to continue telling, "I am training them to eat and dress themselves, but they don't want to, they struggle and cry, asking me to help them. I cruelly refused, I can't stay with them forever!" Her tears fell again. What worries her most are the children: "The doctor said the children's medicine cannot be interrupted, but our family's life is not rich, I'm really afraid that I may not be able to keep up sometimes..." (Editor: SN005)