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They Called Him "Monster"

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When ZaiXin heads outside, it’s not to play with friends.  He works.  And has spent months planting and selling trees to help raise money for his little brother ZaiFu, who was born with a cleft lip and palate. 

“When I first saw it,” ZaiXin says, “I knew I had to do something.”

Mrs. Li wearily adds, “Without surgery, my son wouldn’t live long.  He couldn’t even sleep because he could not close his mouth.  And because of the gap in ZaiFu’s face from his cleft lip, he breathed in dust all the time.”

ZaiFu caught colds easily and had lung problems, so he ended up in the hospital a lot.  “My son was trapped in a state of sickness.  The hospital became his second home,” Mrs. Li shares.    “I was so worried about how I could pay for all of this by myself.” 

Every day, ZaiXin asked his mother how much more money they needed for his brother’s surgery. They weren’t even close, and Mrs. Li couldn’t get a loan from the bank. So ZaiXin decided to drop out of school to help his mother.

She says, “He asked me to buy more corn seed so he could plant it, and we would have a bigger crop to sell.”

“I would be devastated if ZaiFu died,” expresses ZaiXin.  He continues with valor, “So I would give every penny in my pocket for him.  It didn’t matter how hard it would get for me—even if I had to starve. I wanted my brother to be healthy and have surgery.”

But ZaiFu’s lip and health got worse.  He couldn’t walk or talk, and soon people around town started making fun of him.  His mother remembers, “They called him a monster.”

Then Mrs. Li heard that CBN was co-sponsoring cleft lip and palate surgeries for poor children, so she signed ZaiFu up right away.  ZaiXin couldn’t wait to see his brother.

He recalls, “When I finally saw him, I was amazed.”  

His mother adds, “ZaiFu has no problem swallowing.  I can’t help smiling every time I see him.  It’s like a dream come true.”

ZaiXin concludes, “When my brother grows up, I will make sure he knows it was people from CBN who helped fix his lip.    And you will be his role model.”  

CBN partners are making a difference in the lives of hurting people throughout the world. If you are not a partner, please join today. Your gifts make it possible to provide a tangible future to those in desperate need, bring medical services to the sick, help feed and clothe children here at home and overseas, and broadcast a message of hope around the world. Become a CBN partner today!

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About The Author

Zsa Zsa Palagyi
Zsa Zsa
Palagyi

Zsa Zsa Palagyi loves to tell stories about the Lord. Originally from California, she moved to NYC to work in TV, where she committed her life to Christ and was later called into Christian media. Now a CBN producer and Christian radio on-air personality, she seeks authenticity and enjoys art, culture, travel, fitness, fashion, the beach, and cats.