LRS: Returning visit-LuLu

Little Red Scarf is in Lanzhou, Gansu and Yunnan province and provides financial support and encouragement to children suffering from congenital heart disease. In addition, they provide families with post-operative care and help the children sustain a healthy lifestyle.

Lulu didn’t enjoy sports at all since childhood.  Her family thought she was introverted. She was diagnosed with congenital heart disease when was in the hospital for treating flu. Her family was so poor that surgery was beyond their consideration. In July 2013, with the help of Little Red Scarf, Lulu had heart surgery and today her heart is healthy.

Lulu’s family has five. Her father died of diabetes complications three months after her heart surgery.She was born in LanZhou. Her mother told us the whole family lived in LanZhou for over 10 hears.Due to the pass away of her father, they had no choice but to take LuLu from LanZhou back to their hometown in the country side to be with her grandma and for schooling.Grandma is 71 years old, suffers pain in her legs and lower back.Grandma takes care of 3 grandchildren back home and also needs to work in the field to plant crops. Several years ago, her ankle was badly hurt when working in the field.  She had no money and never seen a doctor for her foot injury.Today, her ankle bone is deformed.

After her father passed away, her mom is the sole bread earner for the family.She works for a lily factory in LanZhou. She was paid by pieces of work done. This job is available for 10 months per year. In a good month, she earns 3,200 yuan.  In off season month, her income is 2,200 yuan. She sent 600 yuan each month back home to cover­ living expenses.

LuLu 2 years ago

After surgery, LuLu has recovered well

House from outside

Inside the house is cold and wind howling

Our best wishes to this family

Four years ago, their cave house was expropriated by government.  The new house costs $100,000 yuan and there is a $50,000 yuan mortgage.  Her father used to be a taxi driver and has $60,000 yuan car loan outstanding.   Because of several incidents over the past few years, the house is almost empty and they have no money to buy any furniture, interior of the house not painted.  As of today, the family is about $100,000 yuan in debt.  On average, their income can afford paying off the debt by $10,000 yuan a year, only if nothing out of ordinary happens.

Exterior of the house looks really magnificent but inside is cold and wind howling.  To make their little world more beautiful, Lulu and her sister use waste paper, clippings, etc. to decorate their room.

After father passed away, mother took Lulu back to home town for school.  She is now a middle school freshman.  Since school is far away from home, school provides Lulu with free dormitory and free breakfast.  The cost for lunch and dinner is $5 yuan each. Under this circumstance, the total cost for Lulu at school $300 yuan a month. Lulu’s sister and brother are in elementary school.  They go home for lunch every day and grandma takes care of them.  Grandma told us Lulu comes home on weekends, helps family chores and takes care of her sister and brother.

Mother’s Day is around  the corner.  Two sisters are thinking about what gift to give mother as a surprise.  Lulu said her mom was born in the year of tiger.  However, they have no money to buy gift.  They painted tiger on paper with some added decorations as a Mother's Day gift. Seeing the gift from the kids, mother was so happy that tears in her eyes.  She said to kids that you’ve grown up and are sensible.

The family planted 3 acres total.  One acre of corn and it can produce 1,000 kg crop annually with income about $2,000 yuan. Two acres of wheat can produce 550kg wheat   annually and is just enough for the whole family itself.  This year they also enjoyed the national living expense subsidy by government for low income family.

During Lulu’s hospitalization, Little Red Scarf keeps a record of the beginning of Lulu’s new life.  She still likes the picture she had with her father.

One can harvest for what is planted. Believe there will be reward after hard work by her mother. With diligence and hard work, life will be much better and secured. With good influence from her mother, kids will grow up in healthy environment.

Original Article Written by Li Wang, translated by Joe Hsu, edited by Yanyan Zhang

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