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Home>Service> Awardees of Fervent Global Love of Lives Award> 17th Fervent Global Love of Lives Award 2014> Chu I-Ting—A Painter that Conquers Multiple Disabilities and Cancer
[Painting for Love and Hope]

I shall confront issues with a positive attitude and keep myself healthy. As I leave my cancer in oblivion, I have a more optimistic perspective on a hopeful life.
—Chu I-Ting
 
Conquering Multiple Disabilities and School Bullying
Chu I-Ting is a freshman studying advertising design at Minsheng Vocational School in Pintung, Taiwan. Diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Thalassemia and Attention Deficit Disorder at the age of three, Chu had spent most of his childhood at the Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital.
Chu also has been through many hardships as a student who transferred frequently. Witnessing how his parents cried at school and how his classmates bullied him, Chu developed a sense of fear for schooling.
Fortunately, Chu met teachers such as Zheng Zhen-Chi and Chang Hong-Chao, who helped Chu surmount his fear, and eventually, his disabilities and school bullying.

Painting for Love and Hope
Despite suffering from numerous after effects, Chu spent his free time painting. With time he became so enthusiastic about fine arts that he participated in painting contests, where he often was awarded.
After finishing middle school, Chu entered his dream school, Minsheng Vocational School, where he majors in advertising design. He aims to become a painter who provides drawing lessons for children with cancer, so that everybody can paint pictures of hope, life and challenge out of love. As a painter that conquers multiple disabilities and cancer, Chu I-Ting truly stands out from 2239 candidates and is awarded the 17th Fervent Love of Life Awards.

Constant Transferring that Ended with Loving Teachers
Chu was born in 1998. Soon after his birth, he was frequently sent to hospitals. At the age of three, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Thalassemia and ADD. When he was in grade 7, for an unknown reason he fell from the second story of a building and his head hit the ground. The injury caused intracranial hemorrhage, and Chu was admitted to an ICU immediately.
At a young age, Chu was diagnosed also with cancer, so he still had to regularly visit hospitals for blood and bone marrow tests after he entered middle school.
Inevitably, Chu complained about how unfair the world was. He also self-pitied and locked himself away from others. One day, Chu came across the book "I still have one leg", which was written by the late Chou Ta-Kuan. Inspired by the book, Chu rediscovered himself and hope.
For Chu, school life was anything but joy. After learning that Chu had cancer, His first teacher in primary school treated him as "an extraterrestrial" so that Chu wouldn't be in trouble. For the same reason the teacher also urged Chu's father to transfer him to another school. In response, Chu's parents cried hopelessly in the corridor in front of him. This scene later developed into a sense of fear for school. 
Things were normal at the second school, but at grade 5, Chu was bullied probably on account of his size. Chu did report the incident to his new homeroom teacher, who not only did not punish the perpetrator, but also told Chu's father that Chu could transfer again, since he had transferred here in the first place.
Chu then transferred to He-Cheng Elementary school, where he met a teacher who changed his life, Mr. Zheng Zhen-Chi. Zheng treated Chu with care and love, and constantly reminded other students to look after Chu. Chu started to feel loved by his peers and became trustful. He no longer feared communication and his school life became happy.
After transferring three times, Chu finally found a loving teacher and a class where he belonged. By and by Chu entered He-Sheng Junior High School, where his homeroom teacher Mr. Chang Hong-Chao had given him much encouragement and inspiration so that Chu could develop the courage to embrace his life and be happy for another three years. For Chu, Mr. Zheng and Mr. Chang were not only loving, but also life-saving.

Life, Hope and Gratitude
Chu always tells him self, "I shall confront issues with a positive attitude and keep myself healthy. As I leave my cancer in oblivion, I have a more optimistic perspective on a hopeful life."
Chu is not only clear about his goals but also a diligent student. He painted his own life on a canvas so that he was for the first time confident with his life. Since 2008, Chu I-Ting has participated in the Drawing and Writing Contest for Children with Diseases held by the Childhood Cancer Foundation of the Republic of China, where he was a frequent award recipient. Chu aims to become a professional painter who helps other children with cancer learn painting their lives for love and hope.
Chu is also grateful to Dr. Chang Tai-Tsong, Dr. Zhang Ren-Chin, and many other staff members at the Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital. He is also grateful to his parents for their unconditional care and love, which has given him strength to stand up against cancer.

Encouragement from the Media
Central News Agency: Inspiring Paintings from Chu I-Ting, a Disabled Painter.
By: Long Rui-Yun, 2 Apr 2012
Chu I-Ting, awarded the 17th Fervent Love of Life Awards, was frequently bullied as a student. For Chu, painting used to be how he sought counseling, but now his personal exhibition has begun until 13 Apr this year.
The 16-year-old is an advertising design major at Minsheng Vocational School in Pintung. At the age of 3, Chu was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Thalassemia and Attention Deficit Disorder, which brought hardships to his school life such as the fear for bullying. On this account, Chu's parents had him transferred three times.
"When I was bullied, I almost gave up on myself, but then I realized that if I had given up, my parents and my brother would have been sad, so I wanted myself not to suffer. My father would bring some pictures home, and when I painted, I wanted to express what was in those pictures, such as cartoons and sceneries. My classmates were also surprised that I kept my drawings." Chu said.
The exhibition includes paintings of many locomotives and Donggang. Chu's father, who is a train operator, often takes his children back home on trains.
At grade 8, Chu fell from the third story of a building. "My hair turned white all of a sudden. My child almost died many times." Chu's father remarked. Because of lack of immunity and poor health conditions, he once had Dengue fever and measles. Chu's parents never wanted him to receive top grades. They only wished that Chu could be safe and happy.
Chu's favorite work is a painting entitled "The Nest", in which there is an eagle who brings flowers back to two fledglings sitting in the nest. According to Chu, the flower represents motherhood and the eagle is female. The painting suggests that, even when mother is not in the nest, her motherhood is always by her children's side.
Chu's father describes him as "sweet", because Chu likes to share about his life and he says, "Dad, I won't leave you."
 
National Education Radio: A Disabled Painter Assists Others Despite Cancer
Uniqueness is perhaps a present in disguise for Chu I-Ting, a young artist with multiple disabilities and cancer. With this force for good, he not only can protect himself, but also others. The Chou Ta-Kuan Foundation holds the "The Life Exhibition: Huang Ming-Da and Chu I-Ting" up until 13 Apr at Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall.
Chu I-Ting is a freshman majoring in advertisement design at Minsheng Vocational School in Pintung. At the age of 3, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Thalassemia and Attention Deficit Disorder, which made him a frequent visitor at hospitals and a bullying target at school. "I did not enjoy my school life at all. Everybody didn't like me and bullied me, but I just wanted to go to school like any other student. Was it the disease that had me bullied?" Said Chu.
According to Chu's father, Chu met Mr. Chang Hong-Chao, his homeroom teacher in junior high, who realized Chu's dream to have a happy learning experience. This was achieved by Chu's father standing at the front gate of the school, interviewing over 200 students and asking Mr. Chang to look after Chu at school.
Chu has been fascinated by painting since childhood. He has also performed well in drawing contests. "Uniqueness is the gift from the heavens. One must use it wisely, so that he not only can protect himself, but also protect those around him." Chu remarked. It is Chu's hope that he could open a studio in rural areas where the underprivileged can learn drawing.

China Times: A Disabled Yet Confident Painter
By: Pan Hsin-Hui, 3 Apr 2014
Chu I-Ting, a freshman majoring in advertising design at Minsheng Vocational School in Pintung, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Thalassemia and Attention Deficit Disorder at the age of three. He spent his entire childhood at hospitals and was frequently bullied at school. However, these setbacks have not held him back. Chu spent his time after school drawing, which served as a source of self-confidence. This young person who wishes that he could teach children with cancer drawing is awarded the 17th Fervent Love of Life Awards.