Man Dances On Livestream Every Night To Afford Wife, Child's Cancer Treatment
Through these live streams, Wen tries to raise money for their medical treatment.
A 28-year-old man in China is doing everything he can to support his wife and younger daughter, who are both battling cancer. His name is Wen Haibin, and every night, he logs onto a live-streaming platform and dances. Through these live streams, Wen tries to raise money for their medical treatment.
According to a report in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Wen and his wife, Yang Xiaohong, have known each other since school. They were secondary school classmates. After getting married, they moved from their hometown in Sichuan province to Guangdong. They had their first daughter three years ago. Their second daughter was born a year later.
For a while, life was simple and happy, but everything changed last year. In June, their younger daughter, Xiyang, was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer that affects soft tissues. Just six months later, in December, Yang was diagnosed with breast cancer. The couple suddenly found themselves in the middle of two serious health battles at the same time.
Yang, worried about their financial situation, considered stopping her treatment to save money. But Wen was firm in his decision. He wanted both his wife and daughter to get the best care possible. 'Otherwise, my wife and daughters will become helpless," he said as quoted by SCMP.
Wen left his job at a construction site to take care of them full-time. They moved from Guangdong to Chongqing, where treatment options were better. Their elder daughter was sent back to Sichuan to stay with her grandparents. In Chongqing, they rented a small apartment. Wen became their full-time caregiver.
Both Yang and Xiyang needed chemotherapy and, in some cases, radiotherapy. Each chemo session costs thousands of yuan. Radiotherapy, when required, cost over 10,000 yuan (Rs 1.19 lakh approximately). Within months, the family's savings were gone. They borrowed money and their debt soon crossed 200,000 yuan (nearly Rs 24 lakh). Wen also tried working as a delivery rider, but he struggled to manage the job while caring for his wife and child.
In April this year, Wen began dancing online to raise money. During the day, he looks after his family. At night, once they are asleep, he sets up his camera and dances live for strangers on the internet. At first, he was stiff and unsure. But after two months of dancing every evening, he said he felt more confident and better at it. Some nights, he earns only a small amount, like just a few dozen yuan. Other nights, he earns hundreds. Many people donate after learning about his story.
Wen's landlord also stepped in to help. Upon hearing about the family's situation, the landlord reduced their monthly rent from 900 yuan (over Rs 10,000) to 600 yuan (Rs 7,000).
'I am willing to do anything for them," Wen said. Despite the heavy challenges, he said he remains hopeful as both Yang and Xiyang have shown signs of progress in their treatment.
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