By CGTN's Jiang Shaoyi
Harbin, the capital of China's Heilongjiang Province, is nicknamed the "Ice City." But in this cold northern town, all the 25-year-old Russian single mom Elena Sibileva can feel is warmth.
Elena gave birth to little Daria in late 2015 in Russia. Due to a lack of oxygen during labor, the girl developed cerebral palsy. Treatment in Moscow has been ineffective. Hearing about good recovery hospitals in Harbin, Elena quit her job, and traveled across around 600 kilometers to China.
Elena said she felt very helpless after she arrived in Harbin. She didn't know anyone, and could not speak Chinese. She said she didn't even know where to buy baby products for her daughter. But she said her life had become much easier, because she has found a second mother, her landlord, Qi Mei.
Qi said she could empathize with Elena. After she told her family about Elena, the whole family decided to help the single mother out. They helped her cook meals, and Qi’s sister drove her out to buy daily necessities. Qi said she thinks both the little girl and the mom need help, so she wanted to do all she could do for Elena
In the meantime, because the treatment was so expensive, Qi started a WeChat group called Help Save Daria, to raise money for the child. Elena came to China with only enough money for two months' treatment. Daria has received four months’ worth of care now, thanks to donations, and little Daria's condition continues to improve.
Dr. Wang Yan, from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang Chinese Medicine University, said that the mental and intelligence level of Daria is much better. Daria can now make eye contact with people. Daria couldn't recognize anyone before, but now she knows some people now, and Dr. Wang said that she is having a very fast recovery.
Qi said Elena told her she misses her hometown, but she also feels she now has a second home in China because the city and the people there have given her the warmth of family and a glimmer of hope to help her live.
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