6-Year-Old AIDS orphan Lives Alone
6-Year-Old AIDS Orphan A-Long Lives Alone In Guangxi
by Fauna
Guangxi 6-year-old AIDS orphan lives alone, eats rice and vegetables without oil or salt yet still eats with relish
In your childhood, what were you doing? Begging daddy to buy a toy, being pressed by mommy to learn a foreign language, taking the pocket change that grandma secretly gave you, sharing the bubblegum you just bought with your friends… When you couldn’t get what you wanted, did you sigh like a little adult: “It sucks being a child!” However, A-Long wouldn’t. By himself, he washes his laundry and makes his meals. Alone, he feeds the chickens and raises the dog. Alone, he studies and learns to read. Alone, he goes to sleep. A-Long never feels it sucks being himself, even though he is only 6-years-old this year.
Niuchepin Village at the foot of Liuzhou City’s Malu Mountain is a village built on the mountain, the cement road beginning at the foot of the mountain and spreading upward, both sides lined with buildings. The further up the mountain you go, the narrower the road becomes, and the scale of the buildings too become smaller. Halfway up the mountain, all that is left is a dusty mud road, with weeds all around. At the end of the road are 3 casually built single story cement block cottages that don’t even have windows. November 2, accompanied by a staff worker of the village committee, this reporter saw the scene at the top [end of this road].
Only one person to rely on
As it is understood, A-Long’s father was a villager of Niuchepin Village and his mother married into the village. Six years ago, A-Long’s parents built the house where they lived until they passed away, leaving A-Long to live there alone until this day.
At the time, why did A-Long’s parents suddenly move onto the mountain so far away from the village? The villagers all refuse to say why.
A villager who knows said that A-Long’s father had spent over ten years out of the village when he was young, and it is said that it was because he had gone to jail. When it comes to just released inmates, everyone will have some prejudices, “so maybe it was because of this that they did not have very good relations with everyone else.”
A one person “home”
This here is 6-year-old A-Long’s home, a one person “home”.
Amongst them, one stand-alone small building, owing to having a “stove” made of several piled up cement block blocks and a ceramic bed pan installed as a “toilet” and thus its “facilities” were relatively complete, was A-long’s “bedroom”. For the other two connected buildings, dilapidated wooden doors symbolically them away, though there were no locks. As it is understood, A-Long once lived in one of those [two] buildings, but because his father passed away there, no one has gone near those two buildings since. A-Long himself has not entered them again, only often walking back and forth in front of the door. “Is it because you feel your dad is still inside sleeping?” A-Long did not reply, hesitating for a moment before running away.
In front of the small building is a very large open area. It is the main area A-Long spends most of his time normally, and the one thing that he does the most is embracing the dog he calls “Lao Hei” [“Old Black”, maybe like “Blackie”], staring blankly at the road that leads to the outside world. After his father passed away, A-Long has yet to go down the mountain again.
Seeing an uncle and auntie [not related, often simply means an older man and woman] he recognizes from far away, A-Long appears very happy. The village committee’s staff worker takes out a box of cookies/crackers and bananas, very naturally places them in the room, and warns A-Long not to eat the cookies as a meal, this obviously not being the first time giving A-Long something. Hearing what uncle said, A-Long adorably nodded his head, and grinned.
A one person future
The staff worker told this reporter that A-Long’s situation is really worrisome, but all the village committee can do is guarantee that he doesn’t have to worry about food and clothing at the moment. Although they have already helped him apply for social security/welfare benefits, 70 yuan a month plus the support of some kind-hearted people alone is far from enough for A-long to grow up on. “No food to eat or clothes to wear, that we can buy. But A-Long’s medical care, education, and upbringing, what we can do is not much.”
So what are other government departments doing?
A relevant representative of Liuzhou City’s disease control center HIV prevention department told this reporter that with regards to A-Long’s medical condition, as long as it involves anti-HIV medication it is free, but they cannot do anything for any medication outside of this.
The city’s civil affairs bureau’s staff delivered to A-Long two quilts, as well as a social security/welfare benefits account passbook. The staff said, what A-Long applied for is rural social security, which is 70 yuan every month right now, but will increase to 100yuan a month next year. Other than that, they will also often send A-Long some living supplies, guaranteeing that he will not starve or suffer the cold. However, owning to A-Long’s family situation being relatively complicated, the social welfare organization is unable to adopt him, only able to continue communicating with A-Long’s relatives, fighting for A-Long’s rights and interests.
On the education side, though A-Long is of school age, for him to sit in a classroom attending lessons like his peers is beset with difficulties.
As it is understood, A-Long has previously attended one term at the Malu Mountain primary school’s preschool class, but then stopped. The school principal Chen Xiyou says the management of the preschool class is different from the elementary classes, that the preschool class at the time just happened to have a space, and thus had allowed him to attend.
Principal Chen says that after A-Long’s father passed away, the information that A-Long’s parents had died because of AIDS began circulating in the village, and A-Long’s medical examination showed that he was HIV-positive, so if A-Long were to really come to school, then the school would face a lot of pressure [problems] too. “The school’s preschool class plus the first and second grades have one to two hundred people. With this many little children of the same age, it is difficult to avoid the common arguments and fights, so what would the parents of other students think?”
According to disclosures by someone familiar with the situation, after school started in September, A-Long’s grandmother had wanted to send A-Long to attend first grade, but when parents learned of it, they sent a group letter in protest, the school succumbed to the pressure and did not agree to admit A-Long to the school.
“Considering his real life situation, our school immediately submitted a report to the education department concerning this matter. The education department, the civil administration bureau, and the village committee have all already held collective meetings to discuss A-Long’s matter, but a decision/conclusion has not yet been made.” As the school principal was saying this, a nearby parent interrupted to say: “If he really comes to school to attend class, then I can only transfer my own child to another school. I would be too worried.”
After much effort, this reporter was able to get in touch with a non-governmental organization in Nanning that take care of AIDS orphans. A member of this organization expressed that they can indeed accept AIDS orphans, but they have to see if A-Long’s circumstances are suitable. The staff member said it is because their method is to arrange foster care, but it isn’t the best way of raising a child for the child. If A-Long has relatives, they still hope that the relatives can be persuaded to adopt A-Long. “A family’s warmth and the care of relatives is something that foster care cannot give.” At the same time, the staff member also expressed that they will go a step further in understanding A-Long’s family situation, and if it is necessary, they can provide A-Long help.
The only person who is close with A-Long is his 84-year-old grandmother. His grandmother often comes to see him, but it is not everyday that she comes. That afternoon, his grandmother happened to come by, and so A-Long did not have to feed the chickens, nor did he have to pick the vegetables himself, and could play a little more. His grandmother had planted two plots of vegetables in the open area beside the house, one plot of cabbage, one plot of leeks/chives. She says this is normally enough for A-Long to eat.
His grandmother lives in another of her son’s home, and it takes her about 15 minutes to walk here where A-Long lives. She normally comes in the afternoons, and cooks for A-Long before leaving. As for things like bathing and the laundry, A-Long says he knows how to do them himself, that he can wash [the laundry] clean, and as long as he stands on a stool when drying the laundry, he can reach the clothes drying line.
This reporter asked the grandmother if she was able to live here and raise A-Long until he is big? She hesitantly said that she herself is a little afraid of living here. Could she take A-Long to his uncle’s place to live? The grandmother did not answer, lowered her head, and sorted the cabbage she had just picked.
The village [committee’s] staff workers are also people whom A-Long has had relatively more contact with, and he knows that these uncles and aunties really care about him. Every time they come to see him, they will bring good things to eat and new clothes. A while ago, the temperature had suddenly dropped very sharply, and one auntie came on consecutive nights to deliver quilts/blankets and winter clothing. Apart from this, there are many kind-hearted anonymous city residents who will also come visit A-Long, but almost no one has brought up the problem of raising A-Long. A-Long says often there are people who will give him money, but he doesn’t want to use [that money], saving it up instead. “What he needs is not only material help,” says one of the staff workers.
One person’s sadness
The “problem” that Ms. Liang refers to is not only because A-Long lacks the upbringing from two parents, but rather the more important reason that A-Long is an HIV carrier.
According to those in the know, before A-Long’s mother passed away last year, she was severely sick, her entire person becoming very gaunt and at the time everyone though she had contracted tuberculosis. Then not long after, A-Long’s father also had the same symptoms, a robust man very quickly becoming nothing more than a layer of skin. At this time, the rumors began in the village, that the two of them had contracted AIDS. This rumor was confirmed when A-Long’s father entered the hospital, and everyone also began to suspect A-Long. Despite all this, young A-Long did not understand, and he only knew that daddy had gotten the same sickness as mommy, and was soon going to die.
According to the village committee staff worker, before A-Long’s father passed away, he had become so weak that he could not get out of bed, much less take care of A-Long. At that time, A-Long did not yet know how to cook by himself, and could only depend on his neighbors to give him some food to eat. A-Long’s father passed away at noon one day in July, and at the time, apart from A-Long watching over him by his side, no one else knew. Only until dinner-time when neighbor Miss Liang did not see A-Long did she discover that her old friend had already been dead for a long time.
Based on the recollection of the staff worker on the scene at the time, after receiving the news, they immediately rushed here [to A-Long’s home]. A-Long, who had been by his father’s side the entire time, came out upon hearing movement, and then calmly told him [the staff worker]: “Uncle, my daddy died, just like my mommy…” Little A-Long did not cry, his silence breaking everyone’s hearts.
Later, owning to some coordination issues, A-Long’s father’s remains were not sent to the funeral parlor until the second day. IN this time, A-Long continued to quietly stay by his father’s side, watching the remains the entire night. From that moment on, A-Long has never again talked about “daddy”.
As it is understood, there were people who wanted to adopt A-Long at the time, but then when everything was finally prepared, A-Long was examined and determined to be HIV-positive, which is to say that A-Long is an HIV carrier.
The kind-hearted people backed out, and the villagers became fearful.
A-Long doesn’t know what “AIDS” is, he only knows that his playmates now will not come near him; that he was about to enter first grade but has now been told to “stay home and await notice”; that when his hand was burned by hot water, the doctor did not dare treat the wound; even that his grandmother, the only person he could count on, also isn’t willing to live with him. The only one to be with him as always was Old Black.
Almost overnight, A-Long grew up a lot. Even though his family has met misfortune after misfortune, A-Long has not shed any tears. Only 6-years-old, he has learned how to cook and do the laundry, has learned how to do things according to the time of day, has learned how to read and write by himself, and has learned how to live on alone.
One person’s happiness
When facing strangers coming to visit, at first A-Long was a little shy, but as a child, he very quickly became excited, striking poses for this reporter’s camera. Excitedly, he even performed some “Chinese kungfu”. It is hard to believe that A-Long, so innocent and lively, is someone who has lost both parents, and an orphan that lives alone.
A-Long doesn’t actually believe that there is anything bad about living alone, because he has “Old Black”.“Old Black” is a black-colored female mutt that A-Long has raised for many years. Ever since A-Long became aware, “Old Black” has been at his side, and remains to this day as A-Long’s closest companion. At night when A-Long goes to sleep, he never closes the door because “Old Black” sometimes will sleep with him in the house and sometimes sleeps at the door, guarding him. “Old Black” doesn’t like to bark and when facing strangers that suddenly appear she even somewhat shyly hides in the house. However, as long as A-Long calls “Old Black”, she will immediately run to his side, and affectionately run circles around him. A-Long holds up “Old Black’s two front legs, his head near her’s, and smiles and laughs happily. A human and a dog cannot talk with each other, but they also need not talk with each other.
A 6-year-old little boy should have many playmates with whom to get into trouble with, but A-Long doesn’t. This reporter asked A-Long what friends he normally plays with? He was quiet for a long time before quietly saying that there was a little kid surnamed Liang that occasionally will come and play with him, but that none of his previous schoolmates will play with him anymore. A-Long also doesn’t want to go out and play with the village children, because he is not familiar with them. Even though he says this, A-Long still stares at the road outside [his home], his expression sad.
The child surnamed Liang is Miss Liang’s relative. She told this reporter that it was her family who does not allow her to come play with A-Long, because they are afraid of “an accident happening”. “Other little children probably also are afraid of this”.
A one person dinner
When the sky turned dark, A-Long started to prepare dinner.
“You know how to cook by yourself?” A-Long nodded his head, and even raised his left hand to show this reporter. On his left hand between the thumb and index finger was a very large scab, shocking on such a small little hand. A-Long however was nonchalant, saying that he had accidentally burned himself a few days ago when cooking, but now it is almost healed.
“Did you go to the hospital to have it looked at?” A-Long did not respond. The staff worker that had accompanied this reporter helplessly related: “When he was injured, no one knew. It was only the day after that someone took him to the clinic after finding out, but they weren’t willing to tend to it, so all we could do was dab some Merbromin…”
At this time, A-Long was busy in the “kitchen”, putting rice in the aluminum pot, pouring in water. This reporter reminded him: “That’s too much water, right? You’ll be making rice porridge this way!” He didn’t make a sound, and placed the pot on the “stove”. The speed at which A-Long started a fire was amazing, snapping a few dry twigs and stuffing them under the pot, then lighting some waste paper and stuffing it in, and within a few seconds, the dry twigs were alight.
After over 10 minutes, the rice was almost done. A-Long opened the lid and threw in several cabbage hearts. The extra water earlier was just enough to cook the cabbage hearts. Very quickly, dinner was ready. Plain rice mixed with some cabbage hearts, no oil nor salt, much less any other condiments, yet A-Long bite after bite still ate with relish. He said that it was too much for one person to finish, that the leftovers are for “Old Black” to eat.
Even though there is no oil nor salt, for A-Long, being able to have dinner is already a very blessed thing. Recently, A-Long had just received 20kg of rice and 5kg of noodles from a kind-hearted person, which is enough for him to eat for some time. However, when he is out of food, he can only rely on neighbor Miss Liang’s family for support. Liang was A-Long’s father’s old friend, three years ago opening a cement brick site nearby, and the people A-Long sees the most are Miss Liang’s family.
“Ever since his daddy passed away, A-Long himself has not left this yard. There have been kind-hearted people who have come and given money, and we tell him to go out and buy some thing to eat, but he isn’t willing to go. Sometimes he will look around at our door/entrance, and we guess that he is out of food, so we will have him bring a bowl over, and fill a bowl of rice and vegetables, as well as give him a few apples that we normally buy,” Liang said.
Playing with Lao Hei (老黑）… which means Old Black or Blackie. Click on image to enlarge.
The place that he would rather live in, as compared to the other more proper building… where his father passed away. Click on image to enlarge.
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Every month this 6 y/o, Ah Long, is entitled to 70 yuan (about USD$10) by the government. Next year, it will be raised to 100 yuan (about USD$14). Click on image to enlarge.
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His grandmother grew these vegetables… the ones that he usually eats. Click on image to enlarge.
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Wondered what happened to Ah Long now?
It is really heartbreaking reading this article. A young boy has to endure so much difficulties and rejection even from his own family members but amazingly he did not give up and continue to live independently. We can see how cruel human is, even family members do not want to accept him. They should have just find out more about HIV and learn to take care of A-Long and not letting him live alone by himself. Really hope he is with a good foster family or charity home now.
Heartbreaking to see such a young child at age 6 having to deal with living all alone by himself just because he is a HIV positive. A Chinese orphan who cooks, bathes, plays and lives alone in the mountains of Guangxi China. Even though its an old post yet it breaks my heart looking at those pictures. Saddest thing I’ve read in awhile. There is something about this kid represent the human spirit despite being given nothing but hardship. I am glad he at least has a dog to accompany him . I hope the local government department and government leaders will help him. He is most probably a grow up young man now if he is around. Wish him all the best.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
I dnt knw y tears in my eyes.. I just thnk abt my kid..
This is such a sad story of A-Long who was left to fend for himself at such a tender age of 6 and with aids as well.Such a young kid, not knowing what was happening to him, not having any friends, not allowed to go to school but still living happily, feeling contented and independent.However, I greatly admire A-Long’s amazing maturity and tenacity to live on his own and able to take care to his own food, wash his own clothes and to educate himself to read. May we dedicate our prayers to him so that he can go to school and grow up like any other normal kids and lead a normal life. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this sad article of A-Long.
I imagined him to be me or one of siblings and i find it too pitiful and sad.Without hesitation tears fill my eyes.WHAT IF HE WAS YOUR SON?? How can society be still cruel in this 21st century,those who judge will be judged for sure.
I hope he grows up to be a God fearing,the happiest man and the motivator of all.You will always be in my prayers A-Long.
And lastly lets stick to the quote” WHAT IS GOOD FOR ME SHOULD BE GOOD FOR OTHERS TO0″
I cant remember the last time i cried so much it must hv been 4yrs ago wen my brother passed away yet i was already in my mid 20s..i hv a son who turned 7ths year and i can never imagine him going thru that,its sad that people still go thru that because of their hiv status which wasnt even his fault..being able to stay strong at that age 7yrs ago i can only imagine the kind of teenage boy he has become..it breaks my heart that nobody knows wat became of him but i believe God had a greater purpose for him.
My Richie rich friends in China.. someone needs to set up a fund for this kid or maybe adopt him.. Thanx for sharing this story.. truly inspiring
Heartbreaking yet inspiring! Such an independent and capable child going through so many ups and downs this young. Ah Lung should be at the age of 13 this year at 2017, hope he and Blackie are doing fine and living strong. I would be lucky to have him as my little brother.
At the age of 6, I was jumping like a monkey, trying to not attend school and Ah Lung was picking up firewood, prepare his own meals, learned to read and write all by himself. I’ve no place to stand but to burry myself in a deep dark hole to hide from him. I believe a lot of us as adults could not even do half of the tasks which Ah Lung was doing to survive.
May he free from sufferings and causes of sufferings.
What would it take to adopt him and bring him to South Africa
Dear Cindy,
It is very kind of you to wish to adopt him. As per Pastor Shin’s reply to Sadikshya Khawas, there appeared no news about him since 7 years ago. However, I have dropped an email to the LiuZhou government for assistance. Should I hear from them and more information is obtained, I will get in touch.
Thank you again for your comment.
With best wishes,
Pastor Adeline
Since this news is of 2010 is there any news of along today at 2017
Hi Sadikshya Khawas,
Unfortunately there hasn’t been any recent news reported about A-Long since in English or Chinese. After extensive media reporting, the Liuzhou city government met with A-Long’s family. A-Long’s grandmother as his guardian entrusted a charitable organisation to adopt/ accept Ah Long at the end of the year 2010.
Liuzhou city’s government and the relevant departments gave A-Long and his grandmother 1,200 yuan per year in accordance with the rural minimum living allowance, another 1,200 yuan per year following the policy regarding orphans’ welfare, as well as assisting them to apply for other fundings. The government provided food supplies to them for spring and winter, as well as winter clothing. A new housing was also arranged for A-Long and his grandmother.
(Above info are from Chinese news sources:
http://news.sina.com.cn/s/p/2010-12-04/111021581875.shtml
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2010-12/03/c_12844477_3.htm)
Since this story is of 2010 is there any news of the boy today at 2017
Omg… this is just a heart breaking story! This boy is so courageous. He is in so much pain and sadness yet he does not self pity and do a poor me like some of us who have to endure just a little but of hardship! I am amazed and really touched by this story. I hope he gets help, education and care, even though he has HIV he should not be left on his own. He still needs to be educated. HIV carriers can live a pretty normal life and I am sure this bright young fell is a going to be someone good and do good. Look at him now tells you what kind of character he has and what he will grow up to be.
To me I do not see a HIV boy, I see a hero in the making. I feel sorry for him, but I also feel proud of him that at such a young age, he is more adult than most of us adult. I believe he will definitely be an inspiration to many people young and old. If we ever want to complain about our situation, we can take a look at this boy and start counting our blessings. He has nothing and no one, yet he can still pose for the camera and he is so contented with his buddy dog, Old Black. What a strong, brave, smart young boy, what a beautiful soul. An unfortunate situation this is but I am sure if we share this story out more and to the world, the right people will come to his aid! Thank you please share this people.
This is such a sad story of A-Long who was left to fend for himself at such a tender age of 6 and with aids as well. At that age, many are attending schools, playing with friends, having parents attending to them and coddling them with love. A-Long had none of those. Other than general care from his grandmother and the villagers, he was not taken into their homes or lives to be fully cared for him as a child. And due to governmental bureaucracy, he is left uncovered for in case of treatment for serious illness. From the people’s uneducated ignorance and fear of aids, they segregate themselves from him in case of “accidents” and the possibility of transmission through open wound.
However, I greatly admire A-Long’s amazing maturity and tenacity to live on his own and able to take care to his own food, wash his own clothes and to educate himself to read. Through it all, A-Long is appreciative of what he has and don’t complain about what he does not have. Such strength and courage in a 6 year old is rare. I wonder how had he grown up since this story in 2010.
As mentioned by Chris Chong, this really brings out the stark difference the karma of each and everyone. We had the good karma to be born as humans and at the same time some have good pampered lives whilst some like A-Long lives in poverty, loneliness and uncared for. And yet often case those living in luxury have such unhappy lives whilst the poor leads happier lives in simplicity and gratitude. It makes me more aware of how important we need to prepare ourselves for our next life with application of Dharma and creating the deep imprints to propel ourselves into more conducive living conditions to meet with our precious guru again, to be able to receive and practice the Dharma.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing such a heart wrenching and yet inspirational story of this little boy A-Long. May he be able to step out of the boundaries created by people who did not understand his illness.
The fact of the case is that A-Long, an orphaned six-year old boy, has to live by himself because he is HIV-positive. Even an 84 year old grandmother, the closest relative to him, does not want to live with him. She prefers to come up the mountain every 2 or 3 days, cook for him and then leave him to go down and stay with another son(the boy’s uncle) who has refused to have anything to do with A-Long. The grandmother has planted two plots of vegetables which he picks and cooks for his daily meals. Even non-relatives, like his father’s former neighbour, are kinder. They come and visit him and provide him with food, clothing, quilts for winter and money(which he does not spend because he’s shy and unfamiliar with the shops). But no one one wants to look after him!
Indeed, this boy has known rejection since as far back as he can remember.Schools don’t want him near any other student because their parents strongly object, for fear of fights and injuries and their children contracting the disease. None of the children in the village want to be near him, let alone play with him. It’s a close-knit village and everyone there knows he is HIV positive. On account of that , he has learned to live alone and look after himself. Fortunately, he has a dog, who has been by his side through thick and thin, whom he calls Old Black. He is easily contented, with his meals of rice and the vegetables, from his vegetable plots, that he cooks that has no oil or salt for flavouring. He Has learned to read and write by himself.He plays by himself , or with his dog.
The worry is the long term nurturing of this child. In the end it is likely that a foster home will be arranged for him. When he ha s to move to a new home, will he be able to take OLd Black with him? Will he be bereft of a companion then for the rest of his life? However it is not impossible for him to find compassionate people to love and care for him, one day. May that day come soon.
Meanwhile, he appears to have learnt resilience and an ability to take care of himself. May this serve him well; and may he find a home where he will be given love and compassion.
My own personal experience is that , many years ago, before I joined Kechara, I was teaching in a Home for orphans and children of broken homes. Among the young people I taught , were a 13 year-old girl and her 9 year-old brother, both orphans of parents who had died of AIDS. Fortunately these two were not HIV positive. Nevertheless, their grandmother and siblings of even their mother, would not have them stay in their homes. I am glad that this Home I was teaching in provided them not only with a shelter and education , but had a lady take care of them, who was very kind, caring and yet reasonably firm with these children. The 13 year-old has gone on to being provided with a University education by her uncle and aunt. But both these children will be on their own after that. The Home only allows them to stay until they are adults.
The quality I like about Ah-Long, is his resilience and his ability to look after himself, which will stand him in good stead in the uncertain years ahead of him.I also like his ability to reach out and find love in Old Black. It will be great if we can find out what has happened to him in the last six years.
I also think he grew up overnight, when his father died and he had to stay by his dead body until more than 24 hours later, before a neighbour came up and discovered that his father had died!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this sad article of A-Long. This life story A-Long really brought tears to my eyes. Such a young kid, not knowing what was happening to him, not having any friends, not allowed to go to school but still living happily, feeling contented and independent. May we dedicate our prayers to him so that he can go to school and grow up like any other normal kids and lead a normal life. Hopefully, the government will look into his case and help him out.
With folded palms,
Vivian
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing the story of this little boy to remind us of how lucky we are and how some people are suffering tremendously in parts of the world that we dont even know off.
This is a totally heartbreaking case. This little boy due to his parents have to suffer a life of loneliness and discrimination. Being a HIV carrier is not as bad as how the people in the village thinks. Instead of looking up for more information about it and truly understands the risk of being with a HIV carrier, they just shut him off away from their social circle. This is ignorance.
This makes me think of karma. His negative karma had manifested into very bad condition for him in this life. It is extremely lucky for him to be able to be reborn as a human. However, due to his karma, he have to suffer and might not even be able to live till adulthood due to HIV.I doubt that which is health condition and poverty, he will be able to learn and practice dharma. This show us how scary our past karma is. If we do not do something to purify our negative karma now, it will come back to us in the future with consequences which are much heavier. On the other hand, we need to practice virtues and good deeds to earn merits. Merits are extremely important to make sure our future rebirths will be suitable to practice dharma and eventually achieve enlightenment to escape from this samsaric ocean.
But HIV isn’t contagious! Poor kid has had to endure so much on his own. Looking at his story the problems that I make in my life seems unworthy to be sad about. I feel for the boy and I hope he gets accepted for good education if he hasn’t already by that foster home providers / orphan care home. He deserves better. The positive side to his circumstances are that he will not be too down when real life hits him. He will be much more mature actually he is already way more mature than me currently. I don’t know what I was like at 6 years of age, I definitely did not have the grit that he is being made of. I wish you the best for your future little A-Long.
Another classic case of someone going through hardship, and now this case is a six years old child, a six years old child who barely know anything, a person who just started to learn new things in life, but very unfortunately, he had been thrown in this tough situation.
A Long has no one to rely on, he can’t call for help like us, when he has any difficulties in life, he can only depend on his own to solve it. It has been a proven, when someone being put in a tough period, they learn to grow, they learn to achieve the impossible by themselves, because if they don’t, there is no way to go.
you think being born in rich family is a blessing? no need to go through hardship is a blessing? no need to work hard to earn money is a blessing? Then think again, when someone has not been through difficult time, and due to the impermanence, things happen anytime, if that person suddenly lost his shelter and someone to rely on, he might not be able to get up again, because this will be so tough for him, but for someone who walk up from the bottom, this situation will not be a problem for them already, because they learnt to stand by themselves.
I could not imagine how A Long is going to live his life, but for sure after he grown up, he will be someone who can achieve a lot, because he already started to learn all this from this age.
Many of our kids here are uncomparable to A-Long. There is an amazing amount of strong spirits within this little boy.
Really pity him for the pains that he has to go through on daily basis. Or, maybe, he does not feel that as pains at all, for he grows up from this kind of environment. Perhaps all these are ‘normal’ for him.
I have great sympathy for A-Long, for he needs to suffer so much for the wrong-doings of his parents. To have to do many things alone and not to have playmates are abnormal for kids. He loses out so many chances starting from the beginning of his life.
As long as the outside world does not have good understanding of AIDS, A-Long may just need to continue to live in loneliness. As long as no one is willing to take care of him, he will have to continue to cook meals for himself. I just hope that before he can see the lights at the end of the tunnel, he can have sufficient foods for his stomach and clothes for warmth, and some toys and books to accompany him so that days are easier for this little brave boy.
It’s very sad to read the little A-Long’s story. Having AIDs is not his fault. He’s just a victim. He’s only 6. He is tough. He is inspiring. He is my little hero. By reading his story i kept thinking there must be more children out there having the same situation like A-Long. Someone must do something about it. Is this his karma for good or bad? I think both. Good that he became someone very mature and inspiring. On the other hand he has to endured all these hardship to survive in such a young age.
关于艾滋病的教育工作很重要，无知可以杀人。
因为对艾滋病的无知，以为玩在一块、生活在同一屋檐下，甚至打个喷嚏就会传染，进而否定一个适龄孩子上学的权利，6岁的孩子还被迫独自做饭、玩乐、生活在山上。
让一个孤儿独自在山里生活，否地其受教育的权利，肯定是社会里的人、价值观出了问题，没有照顾有需要的社群。
当我们的无凭的恐惧，仅仅思考自己的利益，打倒了人道、慈悲和爱时，就会做出一些不可理喻甚至于伤害他人（哪管那只是个6岁孩子）的事。我要紧记这个故事来提醒自己。
This story is an inspiration, very heart wrenching. It shows that growing up is not reflective of age, and that at any moment, if you are required to ‘grow up’, just a change in mentality and attitude will lead you to where you have to be.
It might take a lifetime for one person to grow up, or they might never (I’m sure you’ve heard one saying to a 40year old – “grow up”) but this boy, had maybe good karma, for him to experience what he did so that he becomes an inspiration to many, so that he doesn’t sit back, stay complacent, and remain as a lazy, selfish, egoistical man, as many of us who hasn’t been through much hardship these days are.
I cannot believe that at 6 years old, this boy is so independant, something which I learned at 16, when I went overseas to study! Oh my, I am ashamed. I doubt I’d even know how to start the fire on the stove. A-Long lives a simple life
For A-Long, his true companion is his dog. Even his own grandmother would not foster him in, because he has AIDs, she doesnt want to shoulder the responsibility. It’s not impossible to live with someone who has AIDs.. it jsut means to be more careful and mindful. Anyways, what about all the other even deadlier diseases we have in our minds? Aren’t those worst?
I feel really touched from this article. There are so many things in life we take for granted and not appreciate. Thank you Rinpoche for posting this one up.
Carmen
A really really very sad real life story. I hope the China Government will quickly rescue him from his current shoddy living condition. A young child like him should not deserve to endure such sufferings of loneliness and helplessness. Hope a good samaritan will offer help to adopt and give him some hope in life. Definitely, he is not fit to live alone at his age. My heart goes for him. Can the social welfare dept quickly do something about it? Or someone help to publicise the urgency of him for adoption?
It is really sad to read about a real life story of a child of such a tender age have to endure so much hardship and has been shunt by people in the community for his sickness contracted from his parents.I can see from his pictures that he is a very brave and independent boy with a heart of gold who can still take care of his pet dog in such pitiful conditions and i pray and hope that he will find a good home and the people to love him soonest possible.Be strong A long!
This is really a heart-wrenching story and quite a good one for me to reflect on how privileged I have been and how spoilt I am. The problems that this little boy who barely is old enough to read is more than I have ever experienced in my whole life. He lives a life of alienation, loneliness and hardship. I can only sympathise and marvel at his strength and fortitude. I do hope and pray that he makes it and his story be made well known to many young people like me who are comfortable, spoilt and demand a lot from others.
I fully agreed with you bro. We are pampered lot. It reminded us how fortunate or unfortunate we are in the environment we grow up in. The early childhood years are the easiest time for a child to pick up good habits, good behaviors and good attitudes from the adults, the converse is also true. As an adult we cannot blame our behaviors anymore because grown up can think and learn, unless we still don’t want to grow up so to speak, unless we have abandoned learning. This is worthy and inspiration real life article to share with others. 🙂
This is really a very sad story. I cannot believe that such a tiny child has to endure all of that. These sorts of stories should not be avoided as I think that this story is really inspiring towards me. It tells me to be more appreciative of the things I currently have as sometimes I do not appreciate what I have and complain that I have so little to be happy about but that is a wrong way of thinking. I am sure if I am more appreciative in life now, I would not end up in such a horrid condition in the future and in my future lives. If everyone was like this young boy, we would be more successful as we would know how to take care of ourselves without worrying anyone else. We should take young A-Long as an example in life to become more grateful towards our lives and also to be able to rely on oneself without worrying others.
It is already sad that A-Long have lost both his parents at such a young age at 6 years old to Aids. Even more sad he is also suffering from the same disease his parents has passed on to him. When his parents passed away he was forced to stay alone with no friends because of his sickness Aids. And also to fend for himself as a matured person cooking for himself and washing his own clothes. His only companion is his female dog Blackie. A-Long never had the chance to grow up gradually from childhood into manhood. But he does not feel unhappy or depressed. He accepts his Karma. He also gets help from his relatives and USD10 from the Government. But they do not want to adopt him. One of the drawback for him is that no schools would want to accept him as their students except one school.
i like this real story. thank you rinpoche for post.this real story.
Dearest Rinpoche,
Thank You so much for sharing with us this heartfelt real story about A-Long. It is very sad for a young boy like him to bear so much pain and sufferings. I do believe when A-Long grows up later, he’ll be mentally stronger than others and nothing will conquer him.
Hope, with the proper medication he would lives like a normal child. I will share A-Long’s story with Bea and Edward and let them know how fortunate they are…!
Thank You Rinpoche.
Love, angel
I feel so sad reading this post yet feel so proud of A-Long.He is such a tough young child who has to endure so much all by himself.He has to grow up without love and care from anyone except his old aged grandma and a faithful companion, Blackie, with him.
How fortunate we are compared to him yet we are always dissatisfied and unhappy with our lives. I will share this story of A-Long with others especially to the kids so that they will be aware of how fortunate and be grateful of what they have as compared to A-Long.
My prayers to you A-Long. You are such a brave boy.
This is such a sad real story. How could a child endure so much, sickness, death of his parents and having to live on his own. It makes me feel how privilege I am when i was growing up. He is such a tough boy. And hopefully more people will be aware and more educated on HIV. With knowledge, this kind of discrimination can be avoided.
With real knowledge and understanding, many types/kinds of discrimination can and should be banished. They are all so un-necessary. No discrimination of any kind promotes peace, harmony, friendship and happiness in any form or manner. Only compassion, care, love and understanding can transcend a true humane existence.
A-Long knows how to share and be grateful for the companionship of Blackie and shares the food with his dog even though it may not be enough for himself. Staying vigil at his father’s bedside whilst the funeral arrangements are being done when no one else would. To live with a illness that is not of his own doing and be stigmatized for it. His face shows so much maturity you would not see in a 6 year old kid. There is no sign of rejection or anger, just a deep sadness. This is such a heart wrenching story. I will be sharing this story with my friends, esp the kids. Thank you Rinpoche for posting this.
Great Story! It just goes to show you that when you think you have problems, there are others in this world who live like A-Long. This helped dispel my selfish thoughts and delusions of “why me?” I send my prayers of the Medicine Buddha and Amitayus to him.