Hong Kong celebrity Keung To reaches out to father of disabled daughter who responds to the singer’s Canto-pop hit
- Chau Tin-yu was left permanently bedridden following a medical mishap, and her father runs a Facebook page updating people on her condition
- The six-year-old blinked her eyes and tried to turn her head when she heard the Mirror member’s song ‘Saying I Love You With My Mouth Covered’
Canto-pop singer Keung To (centre) sent a string of heartfelt messages to a father whose six-year-old daughter was left in a vegetative state after a medical mishap. Photo: Getty ImagesCanto-pop singer Keung To sent a string of heartfelt messages on Monday to a father whose six-year-old daughter was left in a vegetative state after a medical mishap.
Chau Tin-yu was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of malignant tumour, in 2018. After a series of chemotherapy and medication, doctors scheduled an operation to remove the tumour in 2020.
What was thought to be good news for the family turned into their worst nightmare – a mistake made during surgery delayed a blood transfusion by 48 minutes and left Tin-yu permanently bedridden.
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She was only four at the time of the incident.
Now living with a severe intellectual disability, Tin-yu is being treated at The Duchess of Kent Children’s Hospital.
Her father, Eddie Chau Jr, runs a Facebook page where he posts updates about his daughter. He also hopes to raise awareness of the incident and hold the medical staff involved accountable.
Last Friday, Chau posted a video to the page titled “an unexpected reaction of Tin-yu after listening to Keung To’s song..”. In the clip, the father played the local singer’s hit single Saying I Love You With My Mouth Covered for his daughter, talking to her like he usually does.
To his surprise, Tin-yu, who was previously unconscious and motionless, seemed to respond to the song. She blinked her eyes and tried to turn her head slightly.
“It is rare to see such a response,” her father wrote.
People flocked to social media to tag the local heartthrob in the post, hoping he would see it.
On Sunday, Keung posted a video on Instagram addressing Chau and his daughter, saying he watched the clip and hoped they could fight on.
“Wishing you [Tin-yu] a speedy recovery so I can sing you a song in person,” he said on his Instagram story.
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On Monday, Chau posted a screenshot of a direct message from Keung, which contained words of encouragement and a request to visit Tin-yu, if possible.
“It’s unbelievable that Mr. Keung would record a video to cheer us on, given his popularity. I certainly did not expect him to send a personal message,” Chau told Young Post.
“I’m not a Ginger Candy [Keung To fan], but I can see he is very kind and genuine,” he said.
Tin-yu will begin attending a special needs school in September.