Graduate in showbiz to save ill mom
By Liu Dan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2005-12-27 16:31

Liu Ke, a second-year female postgraduate in Chongqing University, can often be found performing in different dance shows, raising money in an effort to save her seriously ill mother.

In all, she does four part-time jobs in her spare time to pay for her mother's medical expenses.

Liu Ke (R) performs in a dance show. [cqwb.com]

Last October, after Liu's mother had been diagnosed with lupus, she began to hunt for any part-time job when by chance she saw an Internet ad calling for dancers. According to the ad, those hired would receive professional training and give performances in public places on holidays.

After deciding that this job would not clash with her studies and upon considering the high salary, Liu applied.

With a slim figure, beautiful looks, and basic dancing skills accumulated during her college life in Southwest Normal University, she successfully passed the audition and became a dancer of the "Wen Na Band."

Said one of her dancing mates: "After working together for a long time, we learned that Liu was a postgraduate. At first, we thought she was arrogant because every time the sponsor treated us dinner after a performance, she would refuse to attend." Afterward, the other dancers discovered that she had to take care of her seriously ill mother in the hospital.

Liu takes care of her mother in hospital. [cqwb.com]

On Christmas Eve, Liu took part in a performance after a whole day of study and got 250-yuan (US$30.95), which she said was the highest she has received so far.

With no delay, she hurried to the hospital to enjoy Christmas with her mother.

"I feel very tired every day, but it is worth of that. My mother is my only hope. And I want to save Mom with my dance," Liu said.

Zou Chenghui, Liu's mother, divorced her husband in 1994. Although laid-off for 10 years, she still did some small business to save money.

She said originally she planned to support her daughter in getting a doctorate degree, but sadly, because of her illness, now cannot help.

Since Zou was hospitalized on December 6, the family has spent their entire savings. Meanwhile, Liu tries to earn as much money as she can to foot the huge medical bill.

Besides 10 dancing performances, she also has an assistant job in school and two sales jobs on the weekend.

When referring to her daughter's tough life, Zou said she could not help weeping and have thought about committing suicide more than once, but always give up the idea whenever she sees Liu.

According to the doctor, Zou's condition is not stable. Because of various syndromes, she can only maintain her life via persistent injections of blood plasma and albumin.

Nevertheless, said Liu, as long as her mother can be cured, she would try her best to earn money.