In January 2022, at Kyoto Children's Hospital in Beijing, Yuchen, a Dezhou girl, was lying on a hospital bed, and Yuchen's mother pointed to the words on the book, and Yuchen read them one by one and recited several poems. The girl's hair became thinner due to chemotherapy, and she loved beauty, so she still let her mother tie two small braids.
Yuchen's father, Mr. Su, told the New Yellow River reporter that Yuchen was 8 years old this year, and when she was three years old, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In the ward for nearly 6 years, Yuchen missed the enrollment. The intelligent and studious Yuchen taught himself to read and write, and would also tell his mother astronomical stories. After the video of Yuchen reading in the ward was released, the topic of "8-year-old leukemia girl who resisted the disease for 6 years and taught herself to read" once appeared on the hot search. Mr. Su said that now, Yuchen's physical condition is stable, and his greatest wish is to go to school.
This year, Yuchen's brother Tong Tong is in his third year of high school, and after the college entrance examination, he will match Yuchen. "Tong Tong remembers his sister, and every day he has to make video calls and look at Yuchen to be assured." Mr. Su said that if the brother and sister duo are successfully matched, Yuchen will usher in the hope of life.
Teach yourself how to read and write in the ward
Yuchen is the "little star" in the ward, self-taught to read and write, and can draw. She will always be surrounded by some small patients, and Yuchen will tell them stories.
Growing up in the hospital, Yuchen repeatedly missed the opportunity to read and write. Her mother saw that she was willing to learn, and when she was not busy, she would occasionally teach her to read. The family only knows that Yuchen knows some words, "Not much can be known, after all, we have not specifically taught her." "Last year, my family found out that Yuchen knew a lot of words." I don't know where I learned it, but I'm smart. "Mr. Su speculated that Yuchen may have learned to read from his mobile phone, and when he saw the billboard on the side of the road, Yuchen did not let go." Would ask us what was written on the billboard and ask along the way. ”
Yuchen would also talk about some astronomical knowledge, and Mr. Su listened from the sidelines, thinking that she was making up stories. "I checked it on my phone, but I didn't expect that what she said was right, it was too unexpected."
Yuchen also likes to draw, and in cartoons, she can draw her favorite characters. What comforted Mr. Su the most was Yuchen's self-confidence. "More energetic than healthy children, confident and lively, constantly talking and chatting, and have a good relationship with the little patients in the ward."
Yuchen's greatest wish is to go to school. Uninterrupted chemotherapy delayed Yuchen's enrollment. "She sometimes disobeys, and I say a few words to her. She always talked to me about conditions and let her go to school if she wanted her to obey. It is not easy to explain anything to the child, and can only agree to come down. "Recently, Yuchen has always mentioned the matter of going to school, and Mr. Su does not know how to reply to her.
"Fight monsters"
At the end of 2016, Yuchen repeatedly had colds and fevers, and Yuchen's parents thought that their children were just ordinary colds. Until the beginning of 2017, Yuchen continued to have a fever. After the Spring Festival, the couple took Yuchen to Beijing for medical treatment, and Yuchen was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Yuchen loves beauty and has chosen her own clothes since she was a child. Before the diagnosis, the family took a lot of photos for Yuchen. In the photo, Yuchen combs her short hair and has her favorite teddy bear next to her. After the diagnosis, affected by chemotherapy, in less than half a year, Yuchen's hair fell out and her eyebrows faded. At that time, Yuchen was too young to know what leukemia meant. In her little world, her hair is eaten by monsters in her body. All she had to do was fight the monsters.
Her mother accompanied Yuchen in the ward, and her father rented a cabin near the hospital to cook for Yuchen. Mr. Su said that Yuchen's resistance is poor, the requirements for diet are very high, afraid of infection, can not buy food outside to eat, must do it themselves. "When Yuchen is in good health, he can eat steamed fruit. Three meals a day, all prepared by me. ”
Mr. Su said that Yuchen especially loves to be clean, and when eating, there can be no dirty mess on the table. "For example, when you need to spit out bones, you never put the bones on the table or let others put them." The sheets should also be laid flat, Yuchen's mother once heard the sound of cracking in the middle of the night, and woke up to find that it was Yuchen who got up and was sorting out the sheets. "Don't sleep if you're not level."
In August 2017, Mr. Su and his daughter were successfully matched. Yuchen was able to perform a bone marrow transplant, which temporarily relieved the family. The father is in the hospital bed, and the mother accompanies Yuchen, delivering food and taking care of the father's burden, which falls on Yuchen's brother Tong Tong. To this end, he deliberately took a semester off to take care of his family in Beijing.
Mr. Su said that Tong Tong ben also wanted to match his sister. He underwent surgery when he was a child, and considering his physical condition and young age, he finally decided not to let him match Yuchen. "He didn't match him, he took care of us, very attentive children."
Brother relay matching
The days looked better, but Yuchen's illness recurred. Mentioning this, Mr. Su was silent for a while, "I don't want to mention it, I have recurred, and there is no way." Mr. and Mrs. Su returned to the ward with Yuchen. Chemotherapy for a few months, back to Texas hometown for a period of rest, and then to Beijing for follow-up treatment. Since 2018, the family has traveled between Texas and Beijing.
In order to take care of Yuchen, Mr. Su can only do some day-end work. At five or six o'clock in the evening, after bringing dinner to the hospital, Mr. Su began to deliver takeaways. He usually works until more than 1 a.m., in order to earn a little more, sometimes, he grits his teeth and sends it to 2 o'clock, he can earn more than a hundred yuan, and the living expenses are enough. Yuchen is in better health, and the family will return to Texas. Mr. Su went to drive a truck, "Afraid that Yuchen has something to do, he doesn't dare to drive too far, only take a day or two of work, earn a thousand yuan, and you can settle the money on the same day." "Mr. Su said that he also wanted to work in the factory and could earn more." But Yu Chen's illness was repeated, and he took leave from time to time, and the factory did not want me. ”
This time in Beijing, Mr. Su did not rent a house near the hospital as before. "Rub the kitchen in the homes of familiar patients and fellow villagers to ensure Yuchen's diet." Every night, Mr. Su's residence is not fixed, and he lives wherever there is a place. "I don't know where to stay tonight." "It's a day, and it's out." Mr. Su said.
At the end of the year, Yuchen always clamored to go home for the New Year. Mr. Su said that from the time of Yuchen's diagnosis in 2016 to the present, almost every Spring Festival, he has spent time in a rental house near a ward or hospital. If Yuchen's physical condition continues to be stable and the doctor agrees, Mr. Su is ready to take her home for the New Year. Tong Tong also thinks about his sister, and every night he has to make a video call to see his sister to be at ease.
This year, Tong Tong is in his third year of high school, and before the college entrance examination, he is also looking forward to the New Year with his sister. "If we can't go back for the New Year, Tong Tong will come to Beijing to see her sister." He was nervous about studying, we didn't want him to come, he didn't listen, he had to come. ”
After the college entrance examination, Tong Tong is ready to match his sister. "Young and energetic, there is time after the college entrance examination, if you can match successfully, Yuchen will usher in the hope of life."
New Yellow River reporter: Liu Jinyang
Editor: Han Luying