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5-Year-Old Girl Becomes The Sole Carer Of Her Grandmas, After Her Mother Abandons Her
While most 5-year-old children are in school or outside playing, little Anna Wang from Southwest China is taking care of her grandmother and great-grandmother. In fact, she is the sole caregiver for both elderly women, a role thrust upon her by circumstances no child should have to endure.
Anna’s father was sent to jail for unknown reasons when she was only 3 months old, and her mother remarried and abandoned the young girl shortly after. Left behind in the remote mountains of Zuyin with her severely arthritic grandmother and 92-year-old great-grandmother, she began gathering food and cooking for them, and undertakes other duties such as cleaning and helping her relatives to the toilet.
A generous neighbor allows Anna to pick vegetables from their farm. She has reportedly told Chinese media outlets that she does this because she wants to, and “wishes good health” for her family. A heartbreaking series of photos, however, show a childhood lost and forgotten.
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5-year-old Anna Wang from China is the sole caregiver for her ill grandmother and 92-year-old great-grandmother
Since her elderly relatives are bedridden, Anna cooks for them and feeds them every day, while other children play and go to school
She undertakes other chores such as cleaning the house, bathing her relatives, and helping them to the toilet
The family lives in a modest house in the remote mountains of Zuyin, Southwest China
Anna wakes up early every morning to begin attending to her duties, and has no other family or friends to support her
When Anna was just 3 months old, her father was sent to jail for unknown reasons
Her mother, who remarried shortly after, abandoned young Anna and left her to provide for her ailing relatives
She stands on a stool and stretches her small body over the stove as she prepares family meals
A generous neighbor who owns a farm allows Anna to take vegetables from it, which she caries on her back
Her grandmother has severe septic arthritis, and can barely take care of herself without Anna’s help
She has reportedly told Chinese media that she does this because she wants to, and “wishes good health” for her family
However, no child should have to endure these circumstances, and Anna visibly mourns the life she could’ve had
A photo of her father is all she has left of her stolen childhood
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What do you think ?
Rukmania 8 years ago
This beautiful child. She deserves the best education and life anyone can give her.
Hanna 8 years ago
Since the Chinese media has taken up this story is there no one that can help them? Gosh, how will they cope for money to buy warm clothes. Thank goodness for the neighbour letting them take vegetables. My heart is breaking :(
Kjorn 8 years ago
OMG! How a woman can abandon her children?????? She's the one who should be sent to prison
David Yoon 8 years ago
This is CHINA. Females babies are abandoned all the time. The U.S. version of this is a young child raising their siblings.
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Edlyn Racelis 8 years ago
I find this heartbreaking and adorable at the same time. How could her own mother abandon her and let the child take care of her mom and grandma. She is so heartless. Dear God please bless this child and the elderly
John L 8 years ago
I agree Edlyn. Its so tragic and the two elderly relatives must be her father's mother and grandmother. But it makes no sense to abandon the poor little child.
Load More Replies...
Cassie 8 years ago
When I was her age, my mom had cancer and died a couple of years later. My father was away at work every day. I did a lot of caring for myself, but I didn't have to fetch my own food or care for others who needed it. I cannot imagine what this kiddo is going through. If she lived near me, I would go over there an help her. How do you help somebody so far away yet so in need? It's not even money she needs so much as people who care. I hope people in her community come to her aid. This is just heartbreaking.
DancingToMyself 8 years ago
Yes! People! This little girl desperately needs adults (even if she does not knows it) to take care for HER. Not the oder way around. It's heart breaking. And what does it mean that father is in prison, but they do not know why or for how long?! That's unbearable. We knows she need help, but we can't help her? She don't have any community to take care, or even help her a little, she only has those neighbors who letting her take the vegetables from their garden. I don't understand how the government letting this go? Small girl taking ALL care for herself, and two old women??? I'm sorry for all that happened to you, but you can understand everything I'm asking myself. There is nobody to take care for this? They gave us the pics, and now what?! Now we can peacefully go to sleep, tomorrow is new day?! Dear Lord... :/
Load More Replies...
Ta Mei 8 years ago
Boredpanda, you can't post a story like this and not continue to find out ways to help. This is not some cat content click-generating funny story. Yes, this may be only one single tragedy out of probably a thousand and more, but still you can't post something like this and have us watching this and go on with business. Please do post a way to help this poor child. My goodness.
Samantha Klabis 8 years ago
@Stella is there a way we can help this little girl out? When can we send donations. Money won't give her a childhood but it will help her make it to tomorrow.
Sumie Chew 8 years ago
I would also like to donate to this child if there is anyway of finding out where we can send stuff to her
Load More Replies...
AnimalLover1117 8 years ago
The last picture crushed me. This kid is amazing and she deserves the best education! Inspirational 😊
Grace Barclay 8 years ago
Way too many children in the world are doing this. I know this happens in South Africa. Child headed households too.
Rukmania 8 years ago
This beautiful child. She deserves the best education and life anyone can give her.
Hanna 8 years ago
Since the Chinese media has taken up this story is there no one that can help them? Gosh, how will they cope for money to buy warm clothes. Thank goodness for the neighbour letting them take vegetables. My heart is breaking :(
Kjorn 8 years ago
OMG! How a woman can abandon her children?????? She's the one who should be sent to prison
David Yoon 8 years ago
This is CHINA. Females babies are abandoned all the time. The U.S. version of this is a young child raising their siblings.
Load More Replies... Edlyn Racelis 8 years ago
I find this heartbreaking and adorable at the same time. How could her own mother abandon her and let the child take care of her mom and grandma. She is so heartless. Dear God please bless this child and the elderly
John L 8 years ago
I agree Edlyn. Its so tragic and the two elderly relatives must be her father's mother and grandmother. But it makes no sense to abandon the poor little child.
Load More Replies... Cassie 8 years ago
When I was her age, my mom had cancer and died a couple of years later. My father was away at work every day. I did a lot of caring for myself, but I didn't have to fetch my own food or care for others who needed it. I cannot imagine what this kiddo is going through. If she lived near me, I would go over there an help her. How do you help somebody so far away yet so in need? It's not even money she needs so much as people who care. I hope people in her community come to her aid. This is just heartbreaking.
DancingToMyself 8 years ago
Yes! People! This little girl desperately needs adults (even if she does not knows it) to take care for HER. Not the oder way around. It's heart breaking. And what does it mean that father is in prison, but they do not know why or for how long?! That's unbearable. We knows she need help, but we can't help her? She don't have any community to take care, or even help her a little, she only has those neighbors who letting her take the vegetables from their garden. I don't understand how the government letting this go? Small girl taking ALL care for herself, and two old women??? I'm sorry for all that happened to you, but you can understand everything I'm asking myself. There is nobody to take care for this? They gave us the pics, and now what?! Now we can peacefully go to sleep, tomorrow is new day?! Dear Lord... :/
Load More Replies... Ta Mei 8 years ago
Boredpanda, you can't post a story like this and not continue to find out ways to help. This is not some cat content click-generating funny story. Yes, this may be only one single tragedy out of probably a thousand and more, but still you can't post something like this and have us watching this and go on with business. Please do post a way to help this poor child. My goodness.
Samantha Klabis 8 years ago
@Stella is there a way we can help this little girl out? When can we send donations. Money won't give her a childhood but it will help her make it to tomorrow.
Sumie Chew 8 years ago
I would also like to donate to this child if there is anyway of finding out where we can send stuff to her
Load More Replies... AnimalLover1117 8 years ago
The last picture crushed me. This kid is amazing and she deserves the best education! Inspirational 😊
Grace Barclay 8 years ago
Way too many children in the world are doing this. I know this happens in South Africa. Child headed households too.
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