Help Our Children

Children in Need

Zhixiang Tian

Gender: Boy
Date of Birth: April 2002
Region: Henan Province, China
Condition: Congenital Heart Disease
Amount Needed: $4,700.00

His father died. His mother remarried, leaving this seven-year-old boy to his poor grandfather.

09/09/2011

Zhixiang’s family bought an electric tricycle in June 2010. His grandmother tried to drive it to an open market to sell vegetables. Her tricycle rolled over to the roadside ditches. She was severely injured, and died at the hospital. As a result of this, the family carried a large debt. In less than two months after the death of his grandmother, Zhixiang’s father died of sudden high blood pressure at work in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province. After the Spring Festival of 2011, Zhixiang's mother remarried, leaving Zhixiang to be raised by his grandfather.

Zhixiang’s grandfather is 71 years old with limited financial means. When the doctor told him that the surgery would cost him 40,000 yuan (around $6,350), Zhixiang’s grandfather, out of despair, asked the doctor to sell Zhixiang.

Currently we still need around 30,000 yuan (about $4,800) to cover Zhixiang’s surgery. And we are hoping for your generous help. 


Updated News:
10/23/2011:  Update from Ke Lei, our local volunteer, after he visited Zhixiang
I could not get in touch with Zhixiang’s grandfather. His cell phone was disconnected due to a delinquent payment. Fortunately I was able to find my way to their house. It was a small house, which appeared to be built over the years.

When I arrived Zhixiang's home, it is already 2 o'clock afternoon. Zhixiang and his grandfather was having lunch. They just came back from Zhengzhou. In order to save money, they didn't eat until they got home even though they had been starving. The grandfather and grandson were eating instant noodles.

     

There was not much in the house, except for a few bags of food. And that’s their food supply for the year. Even though I visited poor families frequently, what I saw in this family still hurt me.

When I asked which grade Zhixiang was in, both Zhixiang and his grandfather fell into tears. Because of his illness, Zhixiang only studied at a school for a few days, before he was expelled.

When I told him that he could go back to the school after he gets well, Zhixiang smiled.

Zhixiang’s grandfather has poor health, and he does not know how to read. When a neighbor took them to Zhenzhou, they only spent 8 yuan on food, even though the trip itself cost over 300 yuan.

Just by looking at their house, you could tell their financial status. I also gathered some details about Zhixiang’s family from their neighbors. Zhixiang’s grandfather has two sons. The older son got married and left the house. They knew Zhixiang had heart disease when he was little, but they did not have money for his surgery. Before he passed away, Zhixiang’s father worked very hard in the city, trying to bring home money to improve their living conditions. Shortly after his death, Zhixiang’s mother got remarried, and left.