Zhang Xinlei, a resident of Neijiang, Sichuan province, made headlines after it was revealed he had prepared a grave for his daughter, who was born with severe thalassemia. The condition, which causes significant health complications and requires lifelong blood transfusions, prompted the father to take the extreme step of preparing for the child's potential death. The story gained public attention as a reflection of the emotional toll and financial strain faced by families dealing with chronic pediatric illnesses in rural China.

Following a period of treatment, the child’s condition stabilized, leading the father to transform the burial site into a flower garden. The narrative has sparked a polarized reaction on social media platforms. Some observers view the father's actions as a desperate, albeit morbid, attempt to prepare for an inevitable loss, while others have criticized the decision as psychologically damaging or overly dramatic. While the SCMP report focuses on the father's emotional state and the child's recovery, it does not provide details on the medical interventions that led to the improvement in her health, nor does it include perspectives from child welfare experts regarding the impact of such actions on a toddler.