Survivors have new babies

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Source: CCTV.com | 05-10-2009 14:14

The Wenchuan earthquake took the lives of many children. Parents surviving the disaster have had a difficult time accepting the heart-breaking truth. But one year on, some couples have already become parents again. Our reporter Wang Mangmang revisits such a family.

The Wenchuan earthquake took the lives of many children. But one year on, some couples have already become parents again.

This baby girl is only one-month old, the apple of her parent's eyes. The grandfather says the newborn is the best thing that has happened since the earthquake. But there's someone they cannot forget.

"This is the one who died. The picture was taken at her third birthday. She was gone when she was four years and eight months old."

Friends and relatives come over to celebrate the occasion of the baby's one-month anniversary. Zhang Jing doesn't have time for lunch. Her daughter keeps her very busy, especially when it's time to eat or sleep. But that's part of the joy of being a mom.

Three months ago, we were here on the Chinese New Year's Eve. Zhang Jing was still waiting to give birth. When I asked about her new year wish, she said, a "health baby'.

Now, that's become reality.

Zhang Jing, mother of newborn, says, "the whole family was in a bad mood after the earthquake. None of them said it was a good idea to have another child because the mood could affect the baby during pregnancy. But I just did it. That way we can think about something positive. And now she's here, I've been proven right. We are all very happy now. Now my wish is simple: I want to raise her up. I used to think I would not send her to kindergartens because my first daughter died there. But people told me new buildings are designed to withstand quakes up to eight on the Richer scale, so I'm not worried about that."

Wang Mangmang, reporter and Xu Peng, cameraman, say, "babies are perhaps the best symbol of new life. Here in this temporary house, a baby carries so much hope, but at the same time, nostalgia. Their birth reminds the parents of their first child. But looking to the future has eased the pain of their nearly unbearable loss. That's part of the infinite capacity of love."

Zhang Jing tells us there are several "mother-to-bes" in this makeshift community, and even more are planning to have babies again.

This mother's due date is in May. She also suffered the pain of losing child.

Mu Jirong, mother-to-be, says, "I didn't want to have another child. My husband and I have not been having a good relationship since our first child died. But Zhang Jing's father persuaded me. He said I'm still at a good age to have a baby. He said things will return to normal as we move into a permanent home, and then I can start doing some business again. It's a good idea. I'm looking forward to it."

When we returned to Zhang Jing's home, another mother-to-be was there to give the baby some gifts. She's over forty years old and lost her two children in the earthquake. The woman is now four months pregnant.

The people here say new babies are not a replacement, but another chance at happiness. And when the children grow up, the parents will tell them what happened, to keep the love in their hearts and memory, alive.

Editor:Qin Yongjing