Born with only one kidney and diagnosed with late-stage uremia — a severe condition marked by declining kidney function — in 2019, 13-year-old Yuan Liushou in China was struggling to support himself and his ailing uncle through scavenging.
After his father’s death when Yuan was just six, his mother abandoned him the following day.
He then moved in with his uncle, 65.
Yuan and his uncle were given free beds in the county hospital after his diagnosis.
Source: Douyin
The boy requires dialysis three times a week, with the local government covering 280,000 yuan (S$51,800) of the 300,000 yuan (S$55,500) total cost.
Additionally, they receive a monthly subsidy of 600 yuan (S$110) from the government, but this amount is insufficient to cover their full expenses.
To make ends meet, Yuan and his uncle scavenge the streets, selling scraps to earn extra money.
Source: Douyin
According to him, he makes less than 10 yuan (S$1.85) a day from this.
Fortunately, things began to improve when Douyin influencer Cai Cai noticed Yuan scavenging alone on the streets earlier this month.
Curious about why a boy his age was out late at night, Cai Cai approached Yuan and asked if his family was concerned for his safety.
Yuan responded:
I don’t have a home anymore.
Source: Douyin
During their conversation, Yuan displayed a remarkable level of maturity for his age.
When Cai Cai inquired if he harboured any resentment towards his mother for abandoning him, Yuan calmly explained that he did not.
He understood that his mother, who suffers from epilepsy, was struggling to take care of herself.
Cai Cai uploaded his interaction with Yuan as a mini documentary titled “The tough boy”, which quickly went viral on Douyin, amassing over 8 million views.
Yuan’s story touched the hearts of many, leading to an outpouring of support from sympathetic netizens.
As the video spread, donations to Yuan exceeded 100,000 yuan (S$18,500).
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Cai Cai has confirmed that these funds are sufficient to cover Yuan’s treatments, and he will soon begin the process of kidney matching for an organ donation.
Also read: Man In China Learns Ex-Wife Has End-Stage Kidney Disease, Reinstates Marriage To Care For Her
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Featured image adapted from Douyin.
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