How a Grave Turned into a Garden: The Incredible Story of a Child's Rescue

In China's Sichuan Province, the father of a two-year-old girl with severe thalassemia dug a grave to prepare her for death. This act sparked public outcry, leading to a crowdfunding campaign and government assistance. After the birth of her younger sister, a stem cell transplant was performed, the girl recovered, and the grave became a sunflower garden.

In China's Sichuan Province, the father of two-year-old Zhang Xinlei, who suffers from severe thalassemia, dug a grave on the family plot to prepare his daughter for a possible death. He called it her 'last refuge' and spent time with the child in the pit to help her overcome her fear. His wife set up a sign asking for financial help. This act sparked public outcry: some condemned the father, others sympathized. Thanks to the publicity, a crowdfunding campaign was organized, and government agencies got involved. The turning point came with the birth of a younger sister in August 2017: doctors preserved the umbilical cord blood for a stem cell transplant. After an eight-hour operation, the girl began to recover, her test results returned to normal, and the need for transfusions ceased. On the site of the grave, the parents planted a sunflower garden. Now Xinlei is healthy, attends school, dances, and draws.