China Scene: South

Medical fees bankrupt sick boy's adoptive father

A migrant worker surnamed Zhou in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, adopted an 8-month-old boy named Zhang Weidong, whom his colleague abandoned in the city of Dongguan, eight years ago. Zhou married in 2003, but swore he would never abandon the boy, whom he regards as his son.

Zhang Weidong was diagnosed with leukaemia in June. Zhou earns barely 1,000 yuan a month, and has spent his life savings, sold his properties and incurred debt in his efforts to foot his adoptive son's medical bills.