Girl, 2, collects bottles to save money for surgery

(ECNS) -- A 2-year-old girl in Fuzhou city, Fujian province, who suffers from congenital heart disease, collects empty bottles to sell, in order to get money for her surgery, according to a report by dnkb.com.cn on Tuesday.

Xiaoxiao was diagnosed with congenital heart disease a year and a half ago, when she was just four months old.

"A doctor at a local hospital advised us to get surgery for the child before the age of 3," said her mother Chen Meixiang, who works part-time at a foot massage center.

"The operation might cost us over 100,000 yuan ($16,410), so we have been saving money for her," Chen said. "We haven't saved enough money, and what we can do now is wait and postpone the girl's operation."

Li Liangde, Xiaoxiao's father, runs a cross-stitch shop in Minhou county, Fuzhou city. The income from the shop is far from enough to cover the operation costs.

The couple have been doing part-time jobs to make more money.

Xiaoxiao is living with her grandparents in a 15-square-meter room in the shop. Since the room is too small for five people, Xiaoxiao's parents have to find jobs that can provide housing.

After learning that discarded plastic bottles can be collected and sold for money, Xiaoxiao started picking up bottles on the street, the grandfather said.

"Bottles picked by the little girl in the past three months have been sold for about 50 yuan," he added.

With only one year left before the girl passes her ideal age for surgery, people who want to help Xiaoxiao and her family can dial the helpline number at 968977.