Chinese netizens reach out to British boy

A 5-year-old British boy who suffers from a debilitating form of eczema that leaves him in chronic pain has captured the hearts of China's netizens, who have been offering advice, money for medical care and traditional Chinese medicine treatments.

Morgan Bishop. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Morgan Bishop, who has struggled with the skin condition since he was 4 months old and can barely walk because his legs and feet are so cracked and sore, has generated significant sympathy on Chinese social media.

Countless netizens have been commenting on the boy's condition and are carrying out a campaign to help the boy and his family identify solutions for his condition and ways to relieve his pain.

The report in the Daily Mail said the boy's skin is chronically red, swollen and itchy, making it impossible for him to fall asleep at night.

"There's no respite for us. On his fifth birthday, Morgan told me he'd rather die than cope with the pain of eczema anymore - it was heartbreaking to hear," his mother, Dana Bishop, told the newspaper.

Chinese medical staff members and researchers have offered various eczema therapies, and many others have shared their experience and methods of fighting the condition. Traditional Chinese medicines have been recommended most often.

Many people listed the details of their own prescriptions and dosages, and some tried to reach Morgan's parents with the hope of inviting them to China for treatment.

China Daily reposted Morgan's story on its Weibo account and received more than 264,000 views by Friday afternoon. "I highly recommend that he go to see a TCM doctor," one reader said.

"Poor boy, and who can forward my wish to his parents and tell them do not lose hope for TCM, and a Chinese herbal bath can cure and relieve his pain," a reader named Meidang Bianhuashi_Zoey wrote.

Others offered support and encouraged the family to be strong.

"My kid also suffered from eczema from feet to the head when he was young and he ... cried to vent his suffering. He's getting better as he grows up," Weibo user 5653463014 wrote.

Huang Jianyin, secretary-general of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies, also noted the boy's suffering and said traditional medicine was a very good treatment option.

"I suggested that the parents have a try, but recommended that the parents visit a TCM doctor to see what the problem is and to receive the right treatment," he said.

Morgan has received global attention and $52,537 in donations in just two months through his gofundme.com account.

hena@chinadaily.com.cn