In January 2025, amid Beijing’s bitterest cold, one-and-a-half-year-old Xunxun  traveled all the way to Chunhui Care Home. Born with congenital cleft lip and palate, this chubby little boy smiled with quiet caution. During his first visit to the Stomatological Hospital, he held tight onto his Chunhui mama’s shoulder and burst into tears at the sight of the doctors.

Chunhui Care Home is a core program of Chunhui Children’s Foundation. Since it was launched in 2009, it has created a loving home providing medical care and emotional support for severely diseased orphaned children from welfare institutions across the country. Partnering with 80 hospitals, it offers full-course service including registration, medical checks, hospitalization and care. Professionally trained “Chunhui Mamas” stayed with the children around the clock.

In February 2025, Xunxun was wheeled into the surgery room. He flailed his little fists and wept. His Chunhui mama stayed outside, struggling to hold back her tears. More than two hours later, Xunxun was taken to the ICU. He was so scared that he cried non-stop. And back in the ward, he didn’t fall asleep until he curled into his Chunhui mama’s arms.

Then they returned to Chunhui Care Home. There, the little boy sat quietly on the mat, having fun with the music the colorful toy piano, magnetic tiles and toy cars. Day after day, with the Chunhui mama by his side, his imagination and hands-on skills kept improving.

In November 2025, Xunxun came back to Beijing for his second surgery. The surgery was successful, and only a subtle scar was left on his upper lip.

Though Xunxun’s language development was held back by his cleft lip and palate, he understood everything and was able to follow simple instructions. When he saw his Chunhui mama tending to younger infants, he would bring over a small chair and cloth to help around. He had his meals by himself and then pat his tummy, telling his Chunhui mama that he was full. Over time, under consistent nurturing care, he began to establish secure attachment with the mama.

On 6 August 2026, Xunxun was taken back to his welfare institution. Before he left, Chunhui mama Qiaoqin dressed him up. With tears in her eyes, she filled his bag with paintbrushes, toys, milk and biscuits while saying over and over again: “Xunxun, be a good boy and play nicely with other kids.” Xunxun nodded quietly, gave her a hug, and nestled his head on her shoulder.

From winter to summer of the next year, for almost seven months, the  Chunhui mamas of Chunhui Care Home walked Xuanxuan through his most difficult surgeries and recovery with professionalism and tender love.

Chunhui Mama, another core program of Chunhui Children’s Foundation, provides responsive nurturing care for 0-18-year-old orphaned children in welfare institutions. Chunhui Mamas are both their caregivers and teachers. In the past 26 years, the program has reached 210,000 children from 129 children’s welfare institutions in 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities nationwide.

One day during the second week of August 2026, one of the welfare institution’s Chunhui mamas took out her phone and showed Xunxun photos of sweet moments they had spent together. “Do you remember me?” she asked. The little boy nodded and smiled. He handed her a small card as a token of his affection for her.

The surgeries repaired Xunxun’s cleft lip, but the love of Chunhui mamas healed his wounded heart. Today, the lively little boy is always ready to smile and passionate about exploring the world. His speech is making progresses as well, and he can say “ma” clearly.

May this bright, kind little boy thrive under everyday nurturing care.

Through Chunhui Mama and Chunhui Care Home programs, Chunhui Children wishes that each child always has a loving adult in his/her life.