LRS Care Profile #36: Miao Miao

Gender: Female
Age: 14 
Household: 5 members—father, mother, Miao Miao, younger brother and younger sister
Annual Income: $3200 USD
Daily Income: $8.76 USD
Needs: Subsidize Miao Miao’s medical expense for her skin disease
Fundraising Goal: $480 USD

Background

​Miao Miao underwent congenital heart surgery in 2011, thanks to funding from Little Red Scarf. However, she developed skin disease six months after the surgery and her skin still is not fully healed. Her mother is disabled with her right leg.

Miao Miao’s mother is a very humble person. Every time we called her, she was always very sincere. We asked her why she didn’t call us every time she brought her daughter for doctor visits for her skin problem in Lanzhou. She said she brought enough trouble already so she is not willing to disturb us anymore. She is really trying to say that Little Red Scarf has helped them so much, and that she is so grateful that she did not want to give us any more trouble. She is such an honest mother. She feels as if once someone has helped you, it is not right for the same person to help you the second time.

Miao Miao’s mother is disabled with her right leg and is unable to walk properly.  She said she was like this when she was small, and she didn’t know what caused her disability. We suspect it might be polio. The development of her arms was also different; the left arm is much weaker than the right arm, and it is smaller. Fortunately the left arm can still perform some tasks more or less.

Miao Miao’s father has been working in Lanzhou. He is able to work four to five months a year. Last year he started to complain about low back pain and pain radiating down to his leg. After different examinations, he was diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation. This problem requires him to rest with restriction in physical activities. However, he is too young to be ill and not able to work.

It costs 10,000 RMB for Miao Miao’s medial expense for her skin problem. Her symptoms are mostly in her face and hands. Even with ongoing treatment of oral medication and topical ointment, the disease remains the same. When there is a flare up, she is not able to go under the sun, and the flare ups can be in any season. Her mother has been taking her to see doctors for four years now. Her mother is not able to say the diagnosis of her daughter’s condition. Some doctors said the problem is in her blood, and others said that she is allergic to the sun.

The family has five acres of land. They grow corn, wheat, and rapeseed. The three crops are their main food source. The mother said they do not have much land, but she is very satisfied if the family has enough to eat and drink. Because of her health condition, it is already difficult to manage the crops, so they do not dare to plant other crops. The father barely makes 20,000 RMB a year. Half of the income is used to pay school expense, rent, and the family’s miscellaneous expenses. The other half would be for paying Miao Miao’s medical expense and debts.

​The financial situation is very tight, but they are very grateful for what they have. Knowing Miao Miao’s heart surgery was completed successfully, and that there will be no more life threatening problems, Miao Miao’s mother is full of joy and gratitude.