Hao Hao died in Beijing on 27/1, as reported by SCMP on 5/2. His parents shared the sad news on their social media account, which has over 600,000 followers. The announcement video garnered 780,000 interactions and 410,000 condolence comments, with many expressing admiration for the "little warrior's" extraordinary resilience.

Despite his painful illness, Hao Hao maintained an optimistic spirit, earning him the affectionate nickname "little sun". Photo: QQ

The boy, from Guizhou, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at 4 years old, following unusual bruising. Over six years, his body underwent 17 rounds of chemotherapy, 15 radiation therapy sessions, and two bone marrow transplants. Doctors had given a poor prognosis and advised his family to stop treatment due to slim hope and financial strain, but Hao Hao’s parents were determined to fight for their child's life.

Amid physical pain, Hao Hao confronted his illness with a rare positive attitude. From 2/2023, he documented his daily life on his social media account, "Hao Hao is Striving". In his world, he called his bitter medicine "dessert".

The online community affectionately called him their "little sun" and often sent well wishes, hoping their "prince would soon recover and the illness would never return". A weakened immune system prevented Hao Hao from attending school or playing with peers. He found joy through short videos, quickly keeping up with many social media trends. Even when medication side effects caused his face to swell, he humorously asked if his "pancake" face was adorable.

Medication side effects caused Hao Hao's face to swell. Photo: HK01

In his final days, the boy enjoyed favorite foods like Sichuan-style fish with pickled vegetables, chive dumplings, grilled sausages, and orange lollipops. Li Yang, Hao Hao's father, said his son praised the fish as "the best I've ever eaten". The boy also dreamed of taking his younger brother camping and having a barbecue together. As his condition worsened, causing his right eye to be almost completely closed, Hao Hao humorously told his father that he looked like "a pirate from a movie".

His father recounted that before he passed away, his son asked his parents not to be too sad and made them promise not to divorce, but to live a good life. Hao Hao's treating doctor shared that the boy even arranged his own funeral. He wished to rest on the mountain behind their house so he could watch his loved ones grow old over the years. At the funeral, his family dressed him in a police uniform, as becoming a police officer was his biggest dream.

"Rest in peace. An optimistic, resilient, and happy child. You are an example for many adults", one user posted. Another shared: "May you always be happy and healthy in the afterlife".

Binh Minh (Sources: SCMP, Sohu, QQ)