Ferris, a father of three, spared no effort to get his ailing eldest daughter the best care, while tending to his younger two. The family found respite at Ronald McDonald House, where they felt the community’s warmth – strengthening Ferris and his wife’s resolve to build a brighter future for their children.
“The daughter is the father’s beloved from a past life.” When Ferris learned late last year that his eldest daughter, Esther, was suffering from acute lymphoid leukemia, his heart was pierced with anguish.
Ferris was committed to advancing his budding career in environmental protection. At the same time, he was looking forward to welcoming his third son with his wife, Ceci, who was about to give birth. However, the eldest daughter, Esther, continued to have symptoms such as fever and cold. “Esther has always been healthy, we thought it was just a common minor illness, but how could we have thought it was leukemia so serious,” Ferris said.
Ever since Esther entered the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital for treatment, Ferris has been by her side, and has been described by his wife as the most effective painkiller for her daughter. Because as long as she has her father by her side, Esther seemed to be able to withstand any pain.
But for Ferris, the most heart-wrenching thing is watching Esther, who used to be well-behaved and cute, sometimes change her temperament due to drug reactions. “When her emotions hit, she would lose her temper uncontrollably, leaving us both physically and mentally exhausted.”
As a father, Ferris has always cared for his children and established a close relationship. In order to help Esther come to terms with her condition, he deliberately asked a friend to make a short film, using the story of “Rapunzel” to tell his daughter that before she can become a princess, she must first go through the stage of hair loss. Since then, Esther has been more receptive to being hairless, and is full of hope that one day she will become a real “Rapunzel”.
These difficult days were indeed a source of ambivalence for Ferris. He admits that Esther is the eldest daughter in the family, so it is inevitable that he will have some expectations for her and want to make arrangements for her growth. “I sometimes wonder if I should give up on these hopes,” Ferris bitterly said. “But I know very well that the most important thing at this moment is to take care of the needs of the children. Because health is not inevitable, it requires us to strive for it with all our might.”
Meanwhile, the little brother Elliot was about to be born. Ferris had to stay in the hospital for a long time to take care of Esther, so he had to leave his wife alone in the delivery room to give birth. The remote location of their home meant that Ferris and his wife had to travel long distances to the hospital to care for Esther. Fortunately, the medical social worker identified the plight in time and referred them to the Ronald McDonald House in Kwun Tong for temporary accommodation, which eased their transportation burden.
In addition to the medical costs, Ferris shared that the daily expenses of caring for Esther and their newborn son Elliot had also placed them under significant financial strain. In order to fully dedicate themselves to caring for their children, Ferris and his wife had to take a break from what they were doing. They feel incredibly fortunate to be staying at the House, which has undoubtedly helped them in the snow and greatly reduced their immediate financial burden.
The most unexpected and precious gain for Ferris’ family during their stay is the compassionate care and support from the other families at the House. They admit to being physically and emotionally drained from tending to their seriously ill daughter Esther, while also caring for their other children. However, the other parents proactively stepped in to help, not only sharing the burden of childcare responsibilities, but also generously sharing their valuable experience in caring for sick children. These acts of kindness and community alleviated the urgent needs of Ferris’ family and made them deeply feel the warmth and solidarity of their fellow families.
Esther’s unexpected health crisis undoubtedly presented significant challenges for this otherwise tranquil family. To ensure proper care for Esther and her newborn son, Elliot, Ferris and his wife had to leave their second daughter to the care of their relatives, and even parents of Emma’s classmates to temporarily look after her. This arrangement, however, stirred up feelings of guilt and unease within Emma. She began to wonder if her own behaviors were somehow responsible for her parents’ frequent absences.
Recognizing Emma’s feelings of remorse, Ferris and his wife promptly decided to bring her to live with the family. This allowed Emma to spend more quality time with her parents and siblings. Over time, Emma’s mood gradually improved, and the sadness that had once etched her face began to fade.
Ceci admitted feeling guilty for neglecting Emma. When she feels down, she would find a quiet corner in the House and cry openly, finding that the emotional release lifted her spirits. She now hopes to tell her children that it’s okay to cry when unhappy, and they should embrace life’s challenges after venting, for happiness will come.
With Esther’s condition stabilizing, Ferris and Ceci were recently able to enjoy a long-awaited movie together. These small joys in life had become precious fortunes for the family.