Boys become men after family hardships
(China Daily)
Updated: 2005-12-15 06:10

Like most of his classmates at school in Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, Liu enjoyed a happy, stable family life.

His father was a local office clerk and his mother was a seamstress, and they were able to live comfortably.

With the support of his parents, art-loving Liu began learning several kinds of musical instruments at an early age and cherished a dream of becoming a musician.

Six years ago, his care-free life ended when his mother became ill.

Family savings and even loans were used to pay for the extremely high medical treatment fees.

Their recently-bought house had to be sold to pay back debt. His father lost his job and chose to leave home, abandoning Liu and his mother.

Since he cannot afford the expensive musical instruments to fulfil his earlier dream of becoming a musician, he has decided to become a painter.

He is also prepared to donate one of his own kidneys to help improve his mother's condition.

The Zhongshan Hospital in Shanghai has pledged to help Liu's mother free of charge.

(China Daily 12/15/2005 page5)