New lease on life

Updated: 2013-05-12 07:12

(China Daily)

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China Daily Sunday edition pays tribute to mothers who have suffered the loss or disability of their only child during the Wenchuan earthquake five years ago.

Today is Mother's Day and also the fifth anniversary of the devastating earthquake that hit Wenchuan, Sichuan province, on May 12, 2008. On this occasion, China Daily Sunday edition commemorates mothers who lost their only child during the deadly quake, which took the lives of about 87,000 people. According to Sichuan's family planning commission, more than 8,000 families suffered the loss or disability of their only children in the disaster. Although most of the women were older and faced complicated pregnancies, many decided to take the risk to conceive again. Now, more than 2,400 babies have been born to such families. The new births help quake victims overcome despair and rediscover their purpose in life.

 New lease on life

Wang Xiaoqin's 10-year-old daughter died when the Qushan Primary School in Beichuan county collapsed in the magnitude-8 quake.

 New lease on life

In December 2009, 37-year-old Wang gave birth to a girl by caesarean section. Pan Songgang and Duan Xuemei / for China Daily

 New lease on life

Hu Yanhui's first child was a girl who died in the quake at age 8.

 New lease on life

Hu, 37, now lives with her 3-year-old son in a government subsidy residence.

 New lease on life

Qiao Zhenzhen lost son in the quake and gave birth to a girl in 2009.

 New lease on life

Sending and fetching her daughter to and from a kindergarten every day brings the 34-year-old Qiao great joy.

 New lease on life

Jiang Xuelan lost her 14-year-old son in the quake.

 New lease on life

The 35-year-old Jiang goes shopping with her 9-month-old daughter in 2009.

 New lease on life

Lyu Caiqiong's 14-year-old daughter was buried in Beichuan Middle School when the quake hit.

 New lease on life

In 2009, Lyu gave birth to a son. The family poses in front of house, which they bought in 2010 at New Beichuan Town.

(China Daily 05/12/2013 page6)