[Sportschosun Jang Jong-ho] A 75-year-old grandfather who has taken up work as a beauty influencer to raise money for his grandson’s treatment for a rare disease is touching many hearts.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Zhu Yunchang, 75, who lives in Jiangsu Province, China, cares for his 9-year-old grandson during the day and turns on a livestream at night to introduce cosmetics. His broadcasts often run past midnight, and his wife stays by his side late into the night to cheer him on.
Viewers find his broadcasts entertaining as they watch the elderly man compare lipstick shades by applying them to his arm or try to do his own makeup with clumsy hands. His daughter, Zhu Wei, laughed and said, "Now my father is better at makeup than I am."
Zhu began doing this to help pay for his grandson’s medical treatment.
When he was six months old, the boy was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1. SMA is a rare genetic disorder in which damage to motor neurons in the spinal cord gradually weakens muscle strength and even impairs breathing. Type 1 is considered the most severe form.
At the time, doctors told the family that the child’s life expectancy was only about 18 months. The sudden diagnosis left Zhu’s only daughter in shock, and she was so devastated that she could not speak for a while.
Zhu recalled, "Before I am my grandson’s grandfather, I am my daughter’s father. I felt that if anything happened to my only daughter, our whole family would fall apart."
To care for his grandson himself, he went to the rehabilitation room at a children’s hospital and learned massage techniques from physical therapists while pretending to be another patient’s guardian. He has continued giving his grandson rehabilitation massages every day since then.
In 2019, the cost of the medicine reached 700,000 yuan per dose, or about 160 million won. Because the boy needed two injections a year, the family faced annual treatment costs of 1.4 million yuan, or about 320 million won.
To raise the money, Zhu sold his home and borrowed from relatives. His daughter also worked during the day and hosted livestreams at night to make ends meet.
But no company wanted to hire a man in his 70s as an advertising model. In the end, he began his own beauty livestream using cosmetics his daughter already had.
Fortunately, in 2021, the treatment was added to the national health insurance coverage, sharply reducing the price to about 33,000 yuan per dose, or roughly 7.4 million won.
Thanks to that, the boy, now 9, can attend school and spend time with friends on days when he feels well.
Zhu has only one wish: to see his grandson stand up on his own someday.
The boy, who loves singing, is learning vocal music online and dreams of entering the university at the hospital where he is receiving treatment.
In response, Zhu promised, "Whatever path you choose, I will support you until the very end."
Reporter Jang Jong-ho bellho@sportschosun.com
