Marry is only 3 years old – a tiny girl with chubby cheeks and eyes as clear as morning dew. Her favorite thing is the pink butterfly hair clip her mother gave her on her birthday. Every morning, no matter how tired she is, Marry begs: “Mommy, give me the butterfly clip, so I can look pretty when I see the doctor.”

No one expected that she would grow up surrounded by needles and IV machines. The hospital became her second home since Marry was diagnosed with a rare blood disease. The disease caused her weak body to stay in the hospital for weeks, then months. In the early days, Marry cried a lot. She was afraid of needles, afraid of the “beep beep” sound of the machine, and even afraid of white blouses. But then, it was her mother – who always held her hand tightly – who helped Marry find her smile again.

Mom told her fairy tales every night. In the story, Marry is a brave princess who fights the “disease monster”, and every time she overcomes a dose of medicine, Marry wins another “battle”. The pink hair clip is the “magic charm” that helps the princess become stronger.

Once, Marry had a high fever and was unconscious for many days. Her mother hardly left her bed. When she woke up, the first thing Marry whispered was: “Mom, where is the butterfly clip?” The nurse burst into tears when she saw her mother, even though her eyes were red from lack of sleep, still smiling, reattaching the pink clip to her daughter’s messy hair: “My princess still has magic.”

Every day of treatment was a painful day, but Marry was still strong. She didn’t cry much anymore, only occasionally asking: “Are you feeling better, Mom? When will we go home?” The mother squeezed her hand: “Almost, we’re almost home.”

One day in late winter, when Marry was temporarily stable and discharged for the first time in 6 months, the whole hospital burst into applause. Marry wore a pink dress, tiny shoes, her hair was clipped with a familiar butterfly clip. She smiled brightly and waved to the doctors. Everyone believed – it was the spirit of a little angel that had overcome the storm in her body.

That hair clip is now old, but to Marry’s mother, it will forever be a symbol of courage – and a witness to a miracle called: a little heart that never gives up.