Panda Blood Meets Leukemia: A Mother's Love and Wisdom Shielding Her Child

On Christmas Day in 2021, Xiao Hao’s family was joyfully enjoying dinner together. The festive atmosphere was warm and cheerful, and no one expected that fate was stealthily knocking on their door, ready to disrupt their peaceful life. Looking back over the past three years, it was the mother’s love and wisdom that created a safe haven for her child.

 

An Unexpected Fall Reveals a Long Battle Against Cancer

 

That Christmas night, Xiao Hao tripped and fell, causing him so much pain that he couldn’t get up. His mother instinctively thought it was just a typical injury but still took him to the hospital for an X-ray. The doctor reviewed the images and found nothing unusual, suggesting they come back for a check-up if the pain persisted after a week. Little did they know, this seemingly routine visit would mark the beginning of a long journey battling cancer.

 

On New Year’s Day 2022, a day typically celebrated for new beginnings, Xiao Hao started running a fever in the early morning. "If it were just an injury, he wouldn't be running a fever," his mother’s instincts alerted her to something being amiss. At 5 AM, she rushed her son to the Guangdong Maternal and Child Health Hospital.

 

After an MRI, the doctor gravely informed her, "The bones in his left ankle have already necrosed, and this condition has progressed very quickly." The doctor said this had nothing to do with the fall and that immediate surgery and further examination were necessary. Initially, the doctor suspected synovitis, but during the surgery, they discovered the situation was more complicated than expected. "This is completely different from synovitis," the doctor said. The pathological results would take a week, and other tests did not reveal any specific issues, so a bone marrow examination was recommended.

 

The decision to perform a bone marrow biopsy left Xiao Hao’s mother in deep turmoil. Friends advised her to reconsider, saying the procedure would be too painful for her child, yet she knew that a timely diagnosis was crucial for treatment. After much deliberation, she reluctantly agreed to the examination.

 

The results from the bone marrow biopsy came back the next day. When the doctor called Xiao Hao’s mother into the hallway, she sensed something was wrong and feared the results would not be good. When the doctor said the words "leukemia," the shock left her momentarily speechless. “I was stunned, thinking this kind of thing only happened in TV dramas—how could it happen to us?” Xiao Hao’s mother even questioned whether it was a misdiagnosis, insisting, “We don’t have that kind of illness in our family; how could Xiao Hao have it?” But the doctor reassured her that this illness was neither hereditary nor genetic.

 

The scene when she told Xiao Hao’s father still haunts her: “That night, I told him, ‘I need to talk to you about something, but you need to prepare yourself. The doctor said Xiao Hao has leukemia,’ and he immediately fell silent.” That night, Xiao Hao’s father sat alone by the roadside, smoking and crying through the night.

 

Be Strong for Yourself to Protect Hope

 

After the diagnosis, the doctor recommended transferring to another hospital for treatment. Xiao Hao’s mother brought him to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital in Guangzhou. The ward had nine beds, and seeing children with no hair lying in beds surrounded by tape made her weep uncontrollably. “It was heart-wrenching, thinking my child might end up like that.”

 

In her life experience, leukemia had always been a distant term, and this sudden blow was hard to accept. Within a week, she lost ten pounds, unable to eat despite food being right in front of her, and she slept fitfully. But knowing Xiao Hao needed her care, she resolved not to let herself collapse. After adjusting her mindset, she comforted Xiao Hao’s father: “Just focus on making money; I’ll handle everything else for our child.”

 

Once in the hospital, a series of tests commenced immediately. Since Xiao Hao had just undergone surgery and his foot had not yet healed, his mother had to carry him up and down the stairs, moving from one examination room to another. To ensure she missed no details, Xiao Hao’s mother bought two notebooks specifically for tracking his daily status, including when he took medication, what medications he took, his cell counts, when he vomited, and more. She meticulously documented everything to be prepared for any inquiries from the doctors.

 

“I felt it was essential to keep thorough records. For instance, if the child cried today, the doctor might ask what he ate or what medication he took, so I needed to remember everything clearly.” This meticulousness was reflected not only in her records but also in her daily caregiving: Xiao Hao’s mother stayed close to her child, willing to wear herself out rather than let him suffer, never daring to slack off.

 

Xiao Hao’s Mother’s Records

 

Rare Panda Blood: A Difficult Path to Treatment

 

Xiao Hao has Rh-negative blood, often referred to as “panda blood,” which added complications to his treatment. Platelets play a crucial role in coagulation and hemostasis, and if the count drops too low, urgent transfusions are needed to prevent spontaneous bleeding in internal organs and the brain. Unlike plasma, platelets can only be stored for 3 to 5 days, making them exceptionally hard to find for someone with panda blood.

 

Once, Xiao Hao’s platelet count dropped to a level requiring a transfusion, but they waited two days without a successful match. Watching his platelet count continually decline left his mother frantic. Eventually, she learned in the “Panda Family” group that in emergencies, Rh-positive platelets could be safely transfused. To save her son, she repeatedly explained the situation to the hospital’s hematology department. Though the hospital could arrange for Rh-positive platelets, they hesitated, fearing a potential rejection. It wasn’t until Xiao Hao developed bleeding spots that the hospital agreed to the transfusion. “We signed a disclaimer, agreeing to use Rh-positive platelets, taking responsibility if any issues arose,” Xiao Hao’s mother recalled. “The leader of the Panda Family group also advised us to use machine-collected platelets rather than manually collected ones, as they are purer and reduce allergy risks.”

 

The transfusion process was surprisingly smooth. Coincidentally, a fellow patient’s relative from Chengdu also had a child with panda blood. Through this connection, she found the “Panda Family” organization, receiving timely assistance during this treatment.

 

Xiao Hao’s Bleeding Spots

 

From Confusion to Finding a Path

 

When Xiao Hao was first hospitalized, his mother was unfamiliar with everything, lacking even the most basic caregiving knowledge. She didn’t know what could or couldn’t be eaten and how to maintain hygiene; she gradually familiarized herself by consulting nurses and other parents.

 

Staring at the thick lab reports filled with unfamiliar medical terms and figures, she found the attending doctor and nurses too busy to provide detailed explanations. So, she proactively sought advice from other parents, learning one step at a time. She frequented online forums, read patient comments, joined groups to share experiences, and listened to expert live-streams, making this part of her daily routine.

 

Xiao Hao’s mother understood that nutrition played a vital role in the entire treatment process. Only with sufficient nutrition could Xiao Hao more effectively defeat the “monsters” within him. However, various challenges hindered normal eating during treatment, such as vomiting and gastrointestinal discomfort after chemotherapy, leading to a lack of appetite. After taking steroids, he would get hungry quickly and constantly seek food, but after receiving asparaginase, dietary fat needed to be controlled, as any slip-up could trigger pancreatitis. Nevertheless, these obstacles did not deter Xiao Hao’s mother. She learned about nutrition through public accounts, researched food pairings, and gradually explored cooking techniques on platforms like Xiaohongshu and Douyin, preparing delicious meals for Xiao Hao.

 

Xiao Hao Enjoying His Meal

 

Xiao Hao’s Mother’s Homemade Delicacies

 

Every time Xiao Hao enjoyed his mother’s homemade meals, he would light up with joy and ask her to make more snacks to share with his friends.

 

Xiao Hao’s Mother’s Bread and Cakes Shared with Friends

 

Having experienced the rain herself, she wanted to be an umbrella for others.

 

Through her relentless learning, Xiao Hao’s mother transformed from a complete novice into a “semi-expert” within the patient community. “Many parents trust me; when they encounter issues, they come to me first, whether it’s about symptoms or medications.” Parents were eager to consult Xiao Hao’s mother, as she could empathize with their worries from her own experiences. “I’ve taken many wrong turns before, so now I want to help them avoid making the same mistakes.” Whenever parents approached her with questions, she patiently provided detailed answers. Sometimes, when parents brought thick stacks of test reports, she would help analyze them, translating complex medical jargon into more understandable language. Additionally, she proactively collected and organized resources to share with the group for easy reference.

 

Xiao Hao’s Mother’s Organized Materials

 

Some parents returning to their hometowns struggled to find necessary medications for their children. Xiao Hao’s mother would help purchase them and send them, carefully organizing instructions for usage.

 

Xiao Hao’s Mother’s Purchased Medications and Handwritten Guides

 

Children with leukemia have weakened immune systems, making them susceptible to infections and fevers. Parents strive to maintain a sterile environment in their daily care, using one or two packs of disinfectant each week. A pack of disinfectant costs over sixty yuan whether bought in a hospital or online, and the entire treatment may require dozens of packs, which adds up significantly. To alleviate the burden on herself and other families, Xiao Hao’s mother proactively contacted a disinfectant supplier and successfully negotiated a price reduction to over thirty yuan per pack, with free shipping for orders above fifty yuan, allowing parents to avoid hoarding supplies. “At first, parents were skeptical, worried it might be counterfeit. They were cautious about anything their children would use. I told them I’d be the guinea pig and buy a box first.” After confirming the quality, parents felt reassured, and now over a thousand families have benefited from this initiative.

 

Not only disinfectants, but Xiao Hao’s mother also helped fellow patients find affordable medications. Once maintenance treatment began, some children faced recurrent infections and needed immune-boosting medications, while those recently off medication had low immunity and might be advised to take them for six months. These medications cost over a hundred yuan per box at pharmacies, which is not insignificant. Xiao Hao’s mother leveraged her negotiation skills to find a pharmacy that had previously offered promotions, convincing the manager to sell at the promotional price, saving parents forty to fifty yuan per box. Many parents sought her help to purchase over a thousand boxes of medication, “I helped parents package and ship them via express delivery, all these services were provided free of charge, and I didn’t take a penny from anyone.” Although Xiao Hao’s mother no longer resides in Guangzhou, other parents can still purchase medications at the promotional price from that pharmacy.

 

Xiao Hao’s Mother Packing Medications

 

Xiao Hao’s family was not very affluent and even borrowed money from relatives and friends for treatment. Yet his mother consistently donated money to the Guangzhou Golden Ribbon Public Welfare Organization every month, having donated for over a year since 2022. “Though our current living situation isn’t wealthy, I believe we can cut back in less important areas to make room for these donations.”

 

Entering School, A New Chapter Begins

 

In September 2022, Xiao Hao completed his final treatment cycle, which went relatively smoothly without any infections. Xiao Hao’s mother had not yet told him about his leukemia diagnosis; she hoped this experience would fade with time. By September 2024, Xiao Hao finally entered school, embarking on a new chapter in his life. Although he had never attended kindergarten before, he quickly adapted to group life. Now, he is lively and cheerful, enjoys playing games, making friends, and even shares his creations on Douyin.

 

Xiao Hao is particularly proactive in his studies, frequently raising his hand to answer questions in class. Recently, he was selected by his teacher to give a speech during a Thanksgiving event.

 

When he returns home from school, he always insists on studying before playing. Every weekend, he diligently completes his homework before indulging in playtime. Moreover, he sets limits on his phone usage, allowing himself only three sessions a day, each lasting no more than ten minutes. When he feels tired or bored, he avoids reaching for his phone, opting instead to pass the time by drawing or doing paper cutting, leaving his mother worry-free.

 

Xiao Hao’s Artwork

 

Having endured so many hardships, his mother has come to appreciate the simplicity of life as something incredibly precious. Her greatest wish is for Xiao Hao to live safely, healthily, and happily. While she doesn’t hold particularly high expectations for him, Xiao Hao has significant aspirations for his future: “When I grow up, I want to attend Tsinghua or Peking University and buy my mother king crab!” In Xiao Hao’s world, his mother occupies a vital and significant space.

 

Today marks the third anniversary of Xiao Hao’s recovery; let us all wish him a healthy and happy future!

 

Post-Interview Reflection

 

This is not only a story of a child recovering from leukemia but also a tale of an ordinary mother displaying extraordinary strength. During the most challenging times, Xiao Hao’s mother extended her hand to help other families in similar situations. Even after recovery, they continue to give back to society through charitable donations. And Xiao Hao, this brave little warrior, has gradually overcome the illness with his optimism and resilience.