As a woman struggles to pay for major surgery and pay back a hospital she already owes RMB40,000 to, four of her daughters have taken on part-time jobs and the other is looking after her in hospital full time, according to The Daily Sunshine.

The woman, Ding Lianzhen, was diagnosed with hysteromyoma in 2004 but could not afford an operation so just took medicine to prevent the disease from getting worse. Hysteromyoma is a benign tumour that grows from the connective uterine tissue, symptoms include pain when menstruating and constipation.

But the 42 year-old suffered a massive haemorrhage this month after an operation to remove uterine leiomyoma at Shiyan People’s Hospital. She still owes the hospital RMB40,000.  She is now at Bao’an People’s Hospital.

Ding’s eldest daughter, Xiaoqian, is looking after her full time. Her four other daughters, one of whom is in college and three of whom are in high school, have taken on part-time jobs to help pay for the operation. So far they have only raised RMB5,000.

Ding divorced her husband in 2001 after he cheated on her. As well as her full time job in a factory, she would often take on part-time jobs to support her daughters.

She has been described by friends and neighbours as a cheerful, optimistic woman. Ding is upbeat about her chances of pulling through, according to Xiaoqian.

Three of the daughters talk to their mother through the hospital’s intercom system

A family photograph being held by one of the daughters