Hu Yi Fan has been working hard at his therapy sessions at Beijing United Hospital since we last reported on him.

An eight-year-old boy with disabilities consistent with Cerebral palsy, a motor-skills defect caused by permanent brain damage, Fan Fan (what his family call him) is also referred to in China as a ‘migrant child’.

Migrant workers seek work far from their hometown and as a consequence are often denied basic rights afforded to local workers due to China’s tight regulatory control of its huge working population. The move to a new city usually negatively impacts the migrant child, especially if they have a disability.

“The problem with migrant parents having a disabled child is that they have no knowledge or information how to deal with the situation and what they can do to improve the life of their child,” said Helen Boyle, founder of the UK-registered charity Migrant Children’s Foundation, MCF, that is currently working with Fan Fan and supporting his therapy at Beijing United.

“Yesterday I went to the hospital with Fan Fan. He had a two-hours therapy session. I spoke with the therapist. She recommended that he has 3 to 4 sessions a week now as he is showing a great improvement. He is trying to walk and his steps are more in time than before. He is also trying to say things. The therapist said that his muscles are stronger and the fact his mother does the regular exercises with him at home is also helping. I bought him a couple of games to help him exercise his finger movements as well as his hand,” she said.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most common disorders of childhood. It is congenital which means it is present at birth or before during pregnancy. Exact causes of most cases of CP are unknown. Premature babies have a higher risk of CP. There is no cure but various therapies and treatments are available, some in China.

China is estimated to have over 1 million children with CP.

Daragh Moller is a teacher.  He has had a career in journalism, the voluntary sector, the Internet, education and creative writing. He is from Ireland and lives in west Beijing.

Photos courtesy of MCF

The Migrant Children’s Foundation (MCF) is a registered non-profit in China that helps children with disabilities live a richer life. This is the story of the journey between MCF founder Helen Boyle and Hu Yi Fan, a boy with Celebral Palsy.

“I remember the first time I saw Hu Yi Fan. It was at school. He was carried by his mum into the classroom. He was held up, standing continuously, looking at me. I was trying to make him smile and getting him to react, not knowing what he was suffering from. It was only when his mum called and told me he was disabled that I understood.

The following week I brought some toys, a pushchair and a wheelchair to the school. When he saw me he smiled. That was incredible.

When I go to hospital for his therapy he recognizes me now. He wants to hold my hand and walk. The video we took with my phone shows his lively happy spirit.

“We are nothing without the help and support of volunteers and partners, and we welcome anyone who wishes to contribute in anyway they can.”

We started working with Beijing United Hospital and Beijing United Foundation, when we helped another child, Tao Song, who was suffering from a heart problem, through our health checks that we do for the kids. Tao had two heart operations sponsored by the Foundation and now is back to normal.

The problem with migrant parents having a disabled child is that they have no knowledge or information how to deal with the situation and what they can do to improve the life of their child. At the hospital, the therapist shows the parents what exercises they can do to help their child and to stimulate the muscles movements that they were not aware of.

The main problem is not the number of people MCF want to help, but having the knowledge or understanding of how to help where it’s needed the most.

We are nothing without the help and support of volunteers and partners, and we welcome anyone who wishes to contribute in anyway they can.”

Helen Boyle was in conversation with Daragh Moller. You can visit MCF online at www.mcfchina.org

Helen Boyle is the Founder of Migrant Children’s Foundation (MCF), a non-profit registered charity that enriches the lives of disadvantaged children in China through volunteering.

Daragh Moller is a teacher.  He has had a career in journalism, the voluntary sector, the Internet, education and creative writing. He is from Ireland and lives in west Beijing.

Photos and video courtesy of MCF