Eight years ago in China, a homeless man named Xiong was digging through a trashcan in search of plastic bottles to sell. Suddenly, he heard a baby crying. He dug through the garbage and made a shocking discovery that would change his life forever. Wrapped up in a blanket was a baby girl and a note that read, "Was born on October 15, 2007." Xiong's heart broke for the helpless baby. He knew if he didn't do something, she would surely die.
There are tens of thousands of orphanages in China, and many of them are overcrowded with babies in need of urgent care. Fearing she wouldn't get the love and attention she deserved, Xiong made the monumental decision to keep this baby and raise her as his daughter. He named her Yanyan and moved her into the apartment he shared with his wife. Soon after, however, his wife left him and the apartment was torn down.
The new father and daughter duo moved under a bridge in Nanchang City, where he continued to dedicate himself to raising her and providing for her when no one else would. Xiong is now 50 years old, and it's been eight years since he adopted Yanyan. He says, "No matter how hard it is, I intend to make sure that I raise her until she is old enough to stand on her own two feet."
Keep reading to find out what life is like for this courageous father-daughter duo…
In 2007, a homeless man named Xiong was digging through garbage when he found a baby girl wrapped up in a blanket. He also found a note that read, "Was born on October 15, 2007."
Too often, we hear stories about babies who are abandoned by their mothers in China -- especially baby girls. This is the story of one such baby girl named Yanyan -- but the ending may leave you surprised.
This is not a photo of Yanyan, but another baby who was also tragically abandoned.
Children's orphanages in China are often overcrowded and understaffed. Despite the fact Xiong lost his parents when he was a child and his education is limited, he decided he could give Yanyan more love and attention than an orphanage could. He decided to raise her as his own daughter.
Xiong says Yanyan is an intelligent child who learns quickly. She loves to recite poems and entertain their neighbors under the bridge of Nanchang City. Together, they enjoy reading books under a street lamp.
Xiong is concerned that she won't be able to go to school because they don't have a street address. In the meantime, he and their homeless friends continue to teach her how to read, write and do basic arithmetic.
Every year on Yanyan birthday (the day she was found in the garbage), Xiong uses money he collects from selling bottles and takes Yanyan to get her picture taken for their collection of keepsakes.
Despite being raised by a homeless man, Yanyan has grown up to be a healthy child. After all, Xiong would rather go hungry than see her starve. Yanyan says, "As long as it is [her] father's place, [she is] home."
It's incredible how a man with nothing has given his life to raising this beautiful baby when no one else would.
If it wasn't for Xiong, Yanyan would have died in the trash. He may not be able to provide much for her, but his willingness to love her is something to be admired. Please SHARE this story with your friends on Facebook.
