China social media users show love for US boy battling cancer

World Today

Photo: Weibo User

Update March 8, 2016: A note on Dorian’s gofundme page stated that while Dorian is still fighting his cancer, “he is making his transition at this time. Heaven is soon going to have the most beautiful angel ever. Please continue to pray for a peaceful transition and for Dorian’s parents, family and friends.”

Internet users in China are posting photos with the hashtag of #D-Strong to help an 8-year-old American boy with cancer realize his dream of becoming famous in China.

CCTV America’s Nathan King reports from Washington.

As of Wednesday, there has already been over 500,000 impressions for the hashtag #D-Strong from posts on China’s twitter-like social media website Weibo.

Dorian Murray, who is from Westerly, in the U.S. state of Rhode Island, has been receiving well wishes and comforting messages from Chinese social media users.

People in China have even posed with posters with messages of encouragement while standing at the Great Wall holding signs with the popular hashtag term #D-Strong and other messages.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

American Dorian Murray expressed his interest in China and about, being famous in China and seeing the Great Wall, which he called “the bridge in China” that people walk on.

Photo: Facebook

Photo: Facebook

Follow Praying for Dorian on Facebook:

Dorian has been fighting rhabdomyosarcoma since he was four. It is a rare pediatric cancer which is a malignant tumor involving striated muscle tissue.

The disease was once controlled after a series of painful treatments, but in early January, doctors found the cancer cells had spread to his spinal cord and brain and the family decided to stop the treatments.

 

Sources: China Daily, WPRI — Photos: China.org.cn and facebook

Watch Nathan King’s full interviews with Washington D.C.-area school children: