It is the one greatest fear of any parent – that your child’s health and very life are in danger. An expat mother, who wishes to keep her family’s identity private, is urgently asking for your help in raising funds to treat her 1.5-year-old son, who was diagnosed with viral encephalitis on Wednesday, Oct 27.
The child, nicknamed Little A, had been suffering from seizures for some time and was admitted into an international hospital for testing to determine the cause. He was given a lumbar puncture test, in which a needle is inserted into the spinal canal to draw a sample of cerebrospinal fluid. Unfortunately, that sample gave strong evidence for the diagnosis of viral encephalitis. Viral encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain that leads to swelling of brain tissue, and the worst potential complication is permanent brain damage.
Little A’s mother remembers him as “such a smiley boy who could still giggle and find joy when he was sick in the hospital.” She just wants him to recover and go back to being healthy and happy. He had celebrated his first birthday six months ago, and his potential for life was just beginning when this sickness hit, now threatening the sanctity of his future.
The lumbar puncture test alone cost RMB 15,000, and the bills are piling up quickly. The medical fees for Little A’s treatment are currently estimated to be RMB 200,000. Within the first few hours of this tragic news reaching our phones, an incredible outpouring of support helped to raise over RMB 60,000. But more is still needed, so if you are able and willing to donate, please scan the QR code below. There is also a WeChat group that has been formed to provide updates on Little A’s situation, which you can ask to join.
In China, the incidence of Japanese encephalitis, which is spread most commonly through viruses carried by mosquitoes, is higher than any other mosquito-borne disease. There are approximately 33,900 cases of JEV every year, with most of them occurring in rural areas surrounded by irrigation farming. On the other hand, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) has been shown to be endemic in northern and western China, including the mountainous areas of Heilongjiang, Jilin, Inner Mongolia, and Xinjiang.
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Images courtesy of the organizers
