Lanming, a bright and loving 9-year-old girl in Maoist China, was diagnosed with a treatable meningioma-an urgent condition requiring surgery to prevent severe neurological decline. Yet, due to her father's political label as a counter-revolutionary rightist, she was denied the medical care she desperately needed. Sentenced by circumstance, Lanming endured immense suffering, ultimately passing away more than a year later.
Through the deeply personal lens of the author's family, this book sheds light on the growing prevalence of treatable meningiomas-now affecting over 42,000 people annually in the United States-and highlights the critical need for accurate diagnosis, distinguishing it from brain cancer.
Despite her failing health, Lanming's love and courage knew no bounds. After receiving distressing letters from her father-who was battling both heart disease and political persecution, teetering on the brink of despair-Lanming took a final, hopeful stand. Nearly blind, with trembling hands, she wrote "LOVE" on a thick leaf, carefully clipping it inside O. Henry's The Last Leaf, urging her sister to send it to their father immediately. This simple but profound act became her last masterpiece-the gift that saved her father's life.
Three days before receiving his heartfelt reply, Lanming passed away. Her story is not just one of personal tragedy, but of the strength of human nature, the bond between parent and child, and the enduring power of love.
A Daughter's Final Gift: The Leaf That Saved Her Father's Life is a testament to resilience, sacrifice, and the voices of children who should never go unheard.