“Please Stop My Treatment”: 13-Year-Old’s Heartbreaking Final Wish to His Mother in China

A 13 year old boy in Henan, China, who has battled a series of severe, life-threatening illnesses, wrote a heartbreaking letter asking his mother to bring a halt to his medical treatment.

The letter that was shared right from his hospital bed, now has drawn global attention and sparked conversations about pediatric care, child psychology, and medical ethics.

Liu Fuyu, who weighs just 15 kilograms, has spent most of his young life in hospitals. He has been admitted to intensive care five times. His most recent visit to the ICU was due to a kidney failure.

His physician, Dr. Huo Yufeng of Zhengzhou University’s First Affiliated Hospital, confirmed that Liu’s condition was critical and required immediate intervention.

Dr. Huo also mentioned that he might require regular dialysis or even worse a kidney transplant due to the condition of his body.

Liu's body was so weak that he couldn't even talk, hence he used a device to send messages to his mom.

Liu’s mother said she ran to his bedside when she received a short message from him, “I miss you."

She mentioned Liu might have died if he wasn't taken to the hospital as soon as she received the message.

Psychological Strain on Children and Families

Liu’s words depict the heavy emotional toll of living with chronic illness. Liu’s experience is not unique—studies show that many children in similar situations express comparable struggles. Research published in Pediatrics in 2018 found that children facing terminal conditions often experience feelings of guilt, fear of suffering, and worry about burdening their families.

Dr. Huo mentioned that Liu’s plea to end treatment shows both his exhaustion and his awareness of his mother’s struggles.

MedBound Times connected with Psychologist Anveeksha (MA in Applied Psychology), and discussed psychological distress that children face due to prolonged treatment of any terminal illness.

Anveeksha explained, "The conditions of prolonged medical treatments are definitely a source of profound distress for children. Rather than being just a physical struggle, it is a multifaceted loss. This includes the absence of normal schooling, the interruption of friendships and social bonds as well as the disruption of developmental milestones in some cases."

Caregivers also carry immense psychological burdens. A review in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology reported that parents of terminally ill children frequently suffer from anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress.

Mental Health advocates globally stress the importance of holistic approaches that integrate counseling and emotional support into medical care.

"All of this leads to a fragile sense of identity that is shaped in the shadows of illness and medical routines," she said.

Ethics and Children’s Voices

The letter has stirred ethical debate about whether children should have freedom of choice while making decisions about their health care.

BMC Medical Ethics suggest that involving children in treatment discussions improves their emotional wellbeing and gives them a sense of dignity and respect even during times of distress.

Liu’s plea highlights the need to balance medical necessity with compassion and respect for young patients’ perspectives.

The Need for Compassionate Pediatric Care

Social media users who came across Liu's story argued that Liu’s story underscores the urgency of expanding access to palliative and psychological support in pediatric settings.

As Liu goes through his battle with varied terminal illness, his letter has become more than a personal plea.

Anveeksha emphasized the need for a more holistic perspective in treating such patients. "It's important to recognise these factors and provide for a holistic approach to healthcare," she added.

It has emerged as a call for a healthcare system that values not only survival but also quality of life and emotional care for the most vulnerable patients. For many, Liu’s letter is not just a child’s plea, but a reminder of the need for compassion at the heart of pediatric care.

References

1. Weaver, Mary S., and Joanne Wolfe. “Pediatric Palliative Care: An Evolving Specialty.” Pediatrics 142, no. 1 (July 2018): e20172698. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2017-2698.

2. Rosenberg, Abby R., and Chris Feudtner. “Ethical Dimensions of Pediatric Palliative Care.” BMC Medical Ethics 17, no. 1 (December 2016): 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-016-0090-6.

3. Rosenberg, Abby R., Karen M. Dussel, and Joanne Wolfe. “Psychological Distress in Parents of Children with Advanced Cancer.” Journal of Pediatric Psychology 38, no. 5 (June 2013): 459–70. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jst015.

(Rh/ARC/MSM)