CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- 7 months ago, Tu Penghui brought his mother, Zhang Tianmei, from their hometown - Jiangjin, Chongqing, to Shanghai to fulfill her long-awaited dream of visiting Disneyland.

However, before their trip could come to an end, Zhang Tianmei suddenly developed a high fever and was soon diagnosed with leukemia.

Tu Penghui immediately resigned from his job in Zhejiang, where he can earn an annual salary of 200,000 yuan, returned home and rented a house near the hospital with his father. They both became her personal “caregivers”. When interviewed, Tu Penghui stated, "Filial piety is not something to boast about. I am simply loving my mother in the way she has loved me."

He resigned from his job and traveled over 1,400 kilometers to return home: "Finally, I can do something for my mother."

On December 6th, in the hematology ward of the Xinqiao Hospital, 51-year-old Zhang Tianmei had just undergone a bone marrow stem cell transplant surgery. She appeared extremely thin on her hospital bed, with bruises from injections on her arms. The pain in her body rendered her unable to speak, and when someone entered the room, she could only nod gently to indicate acknowledgment.

Beside the hospital bed, Tu Penghui, who had just finished mopping the floor, repeatedly wiped the handrails and curtains with alcohol. While working with his back turned towards Zhang Tianmei, he would occasionally glance at her.

This scene in the hospital room has been playing out every day for the past 7 months since Zhang Tianmei was diagnosed with acute leukemia.

After his mother's diagnosis, 25-year-old Tu Penghui resigned from his job in Zhejiang, where he earned an annual salary of 200,000 yuan, and traveled over 1,400 kilometers back to his hometown to accompany his mother in her fight against cancer. One month ago, the mother and son underwent a bone marrow stem cell transplant surgery together. That day  is the fifth day since Zhang Tianmei's discharge from the hospital.

Tu Penghui was working in sales at a big data company in Ningbo, earning a monthly salary of nearly 20,000 yuan. He had a bright future ahead and originally planned to earn more money before returning to his hometown. However, when his mother fell ill, Tu Penghui didn't hesitate to make the decision to resign and return home.

At the end of May, after handing over his job responsibilities, Tu Penghui returned to Chongqing with his luggage. His first priority was to find a suitable hospital and doctors and arrange for himself to be a bone marrow match for his mother. Fortunately, in June, there was good news from the hospital that he was a successful match for his mother's bone marrow.

In early November, after undergoing several rounds of chemotherapy, Zhang Tianmei finally reached the optimal timing for the transplant surgery. Tu Penghui lay on the operating table, being with his mother. He said that although the process was long and challenging, it brought a sense of sweetness to his heart because he could finally do something for his mother.

The surgery was highly successful, and after a month of isolation, Zhang Tianmei smoothly transitioned to the sterile ward.

Day and night guarding by the hospital bed:

“Loving her in the same way she has loved me”

Due to the weakened immune system of leukemia patients, Zhang Tianmei's bowls need to be boiled in hot water for half an hour before use.

Items such as curtains and water bottles that come into contact with Zhang Tianmei's bed must be regularly disinfected.

Tu Penghui has to constantly monitor whether there are any injuries or infections on his mother's body. He also ensures she stays warm and avoids getting cold.
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These are nursing knowledge handwritten by Tu Penghui in his notebook. He is afraid that he might forget, so “write them down so that I can have a clearer memory”.

Caring for a leukemia patient requires more careful attention compared to caring for an ordinary patient. Tu Penghui and his father rented a simple house near the hospital, with clearly defined responsibilities. His father is primarily responsible for grocery shopping, cooking, and delivering meals, while Tu Penghui takes care of his mother's daily needs by her bedside. They take turns staying overnight.

Dr. Liu Huanfeng, the attending physician, mentioned that very few family members can be so attentive. "The son is filial, and the husband is considerate. This loving family atmosphere plays a significant role in positively influencing the patient's condition".

While some are moved by his filial piety, others may feel regretful about him giving up his future and empathize with the hardships he faces. However, Tu Penghui remains unperturbed. He doesn't consider himself tired or see it as a sacrifice. "I am simply loving my mother in the way she has loved me".

In Tu Penghui's eyes, his mother has always accompanied him. “On my journey of growth, there are so many imprints of my mother. Without her, I wouldn't be the healthy and positive person I am today. Now, she needs me, so let me accompany her".

The family of three made a pledge in their fight against cancer:

"Enter the hospital with joy, return home with fitness!"

Around 6 months, Zhang Tianmei has undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy and one bone marrow transplant. During this time, her physical and mental condition have deteriorated significantly.

To ensure that his mother maintains a positive mindset, Tu Penghui and his father always find creative ways to make her happy. Whenever she has a moment of energy and can move around, Tu Penghui captures her process of actively and optimistically fighting against the disease, adds funny background music to the videos and posts them on social media platforms.

Through activities like playing finger guessing games or acting silly, the mother in the videos appears incredibly adorable, becoming the source of joy in the hospital room. Many netizens comment “what an optimistic family”.

Tu Penghui believes that painful things should be buried in the sand and scattered by the wind, while beautiful things should be engraved on stone. He hopes to inspire his mother and others who are battling against the disease with happy videos.

With the care from Tu Penghui and his father, as well as the encouragement from their followers, Zhang Tianmei's mindset has improved significantly. She said, "My family is my backbone. With them by my side, I have confidence. I also appreciate the concern from netizens. I will keep fighting." Zhang Tianmei looks forward to the day of her recovery when she can go on an outing with her husband and son.

The doctor informs Tu Penghui that his mother is going well and has a stable blood production. If this condition continues for the next 20 days, she will be able to be discharged from the hospital and continue observation at home.

"I pledge to enter the hospital with joy, and return home with fitness. I am determined to triumph over cancer." This was the cancer-fighting declaration made by the family earlier.

Tu Penghui's determination is also inspired by his mother's unwavering resolve. "My mother is like Sun Wukong. Despite going through so many hardships, she always holds on to hope and remains full of fighting spirit. I firmly believe that my 'Sun Wukong' mother will overcome this challenge," Tu Penghui said. (Translated by Liu Sha, Fathom Language Limited)