But after visiting her four-year-old daughter, Ren Yan, in the hospital, Liang was in tears. In the six months the two were separated, the child had become seriously ill and was now on the verge of death. Three weeks ago, Ren was diagnosed with a blood cancer called acute lymphocytic leukemia, a type of leukemia commonly seen in children.

Liang visited her daughter every week in kindergarten after divorcing her husband in 2000.

"I was not allowed to see my girl in his home, and I haven't gone to see her since April last year. I lost contact after I got busy with two part-time jobs," Liang said.

The father, who is paralyzed except for one hand, called the Shanghai Television Station, asking for help from the public to find Liang and complete his daughter's last wish.

"The girl's treatment has been delayed for two to three weeks because of missing the key period to control her white blood cells," said Cheng Bochang, a doctor at the Shanghai Children's Medical Center.

Thanks to the assistance of the television station, the family finally agreed to send the child to the hospital.

The doctor thought the family's pessimism would worsen Ren's condition, and the hospital offered to transport her to the hospital for free treatment.

Doctors say about 90 percent of children with this disease who are under the age of 12 can expect to be cured, but Ren now has only about a 40 percent chance of living for another five years.

Reporters with the TV station, the Shanghai Women's Federation, the Charity Fund Association and other individuals have donated about 30,000 yuan (US$3,623) for Ren's medical expenses, which is enough to cover the first phase of treatment, which will last for one month.

(China Daily January 17, 2002)