By love-89.com In a recent interview, we had the opportunity to speak with members of the New York Chinese Association about a young couple grappling with an unexpected crisis in their new life in the United States. Huang Qi-Wang, the association’s chairman, and Chen Ji-Hua, its president, visited Wang Jie, who is currently confined to bed due to severe health issues.
Wang Jie, 33, and his wife Chen Mei-Li, 32, originally from Fuzhou, China, made their way to New York on December 1st following a challenging four-month journey that began on August 5th of last year. Upon their arrival, they quickly found employment—Wang Jie started out as a chef and later joined a moving company, while Chen Mei-Li began working as a cashier at a supermarket before transitioning to a nail salon. The couple dedicated themselves to saving money to repay over 300,000 RMB in debt incurred during their journey.
Tragedy struck when both of them fell ill following a rainstorm during the Zhongyuan Festival on August 18th. While Chen Mei-Li recovered from her cold within a few days, Wang Jie’s condition worsened significantly. He experienced persistent abdominal pain and sought medical attention, initially being told it might be gallbladder inflammation. However, a visit to the hospital over Labor Day weekend brought devastating news: Wang Jie was diagnosed with late-stage rectal cancer that had metastasized to his liver. Unable to perform surgery due to the size of the tumors, doctors recommended chemotherapy as the next step.
This abrupt and painful shift in their lives has left the couple feeling isolated, as they lack close relatives in New York, aside from a distant family member residing in another state. Chen Mei-Li made the difficult decision to quit her job to care for her husband, who is suffering from severe pain, jaundice, and fluid accumulation in his abdomen. She shared that, despite her attempts to remain strong for him, she often finds herself breaking down in private under the immense stress.
Wang Jie and Chen Mei-Li deeply miss their two children back in China—a 12-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son. Wang Jie expresses a strong yearning to see them, while Chen Mei-Li is gravely concerned about managing their rent and living expenses, not to mention the potential costs of a funeral if the situation turns dire.
In light of their predicament, the New York Chinese Association has stepped in to support the couple, actively reaching out to the community for donations, which have already surpassed $20,000. On October 6th, the association’s leaders convened to discuss the couple’s circumstances further and explore options for securing visas for their children to visit from China.
For those who wish to help Wang Jie and Chen Mei-Li during this difficult time, donations can be made by sending a check to the New York Chinese Association at 5103 7th Avenue, Brooklyn. Checks should be made payable to the American New York Chinese Association. All contributions will go directly to assist the couple in their time of need.