Boy, 12, quits school to raise money for mum's kidney transplant

Boy, 12, quits school to raise money for mum's kidney transplant

He's only 12 years old but a boy in Henan, China, already plays the role of caregiver to his ailing mother.

Earlier this month, secondary school student Gu Guang Zhao wrote a letter to his teacher, asking to defer his studies so that he could help raise money for his mother's kidney transplant.

Although she has been undergoing dialysis daily, the 40-year-old woman's condition has deteriorated and she will need a new kidney in order to survive.

Gu Guang Zhao wrote a letter to his teacher, asking to defer his studies so that he could help raise money for his mother's kidney transplant. Photo: Tencent News

According to Chinese media, the boy is a top student in school who has received many awards for his academic achievements.

However, when he learnt that his mother is dying from kidney failure, Gu decided to stop schooling for a year and help out at home.

His family has trouble financing the transplant which is estimated to cost 500,000 yuan (S$103,000).

Gu's father left his job three years ago when his wife developed uremia - a buildup of urea and other waste products in the body which can become toxic if not eliminated. The construction worker was earning over 5,000 yuan a month before he returned home to take care of his family.

Her dialysis treatment over the past few years had exhausted the family's savings and landed them 100,000 yuan in debt.

Besides raising money for her medical treatment, the boy has also volunteered to donate one of his kidneys to his mother, although it is unclear whether he is a suitable donor.

Now, the boy harvests peanuts from the farm together with his father and helps out with household chores so that his mother can focus on getting better.

After Chinese netizens read about the family's plight, many wrote that they were touched by the boy's filial piety and made donations to his mother's medical fees. Photo: Weibo

After Chinese netizens read about the family's plight, many wrote that they were touched by the boy's filial piety and made donations to his mother's medical fees.

Others said that his mother is lucky to have such a sensible son.

As of Tuesday (Oct 31) afternoon, over 500,000 yuan has been raised via an online fundraising page. An update on the page said that Gu's mother has been admitted to Henan Medical University to undergo tests in preparation for a potential organ transplant.

The boy told his mother that he has recorded the names of their benefactors, saying that he will repay them for their kindness when he grows up.

minlee@sph.com.sg

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