Former brain tumour patient in China opens 'House of Compassion', provides free lodging to patients’ families

Guests were also offered free supplies such as rice, noodles and cooking oil to prepare meals for themselves and their patients.

A resident of Jinan in eastern China’s Shandong province was widely praised after offering free accommodation to families of hospital patients who could not afford lodging, South China Morning Post reported.

Zheng Gang, aged 39, had been diagnosed with a brain tumour during a routine medical examination in 2020. He was admitted to the intensive care unit of Qilu Hospital at Shandong University and underwent treatment over 45 days before recovering.

When returning for later visits, Zheng said he was troubled to see many relatives of patients lying on the floors of the hospital overnight. He explained that the experience reminded him of the strain his own family had endured while caring for him.

“I felt bad for them because I knew it was not easy to look after patients,” he said, adding that both physical and emotional pressure had weighed heavily on his relatives during his illness.

Large hospitals in provincial capitals often attract patients from outside the city due to better resources, but many families cannot afford hotel rooms. Zheng said that the hardship he observed motivated him to act, and that establishing the facility was also a way of thanking his own family for their support.

In 2022, he rented a flat close to the hospital and installed bunk beds, calling it the “House of Compassion”, according to the SCMP report. The space could host up to 15 people at a time. According to local rental listings, such a flat would typically cost around 1,000 yuan (approximately US$140) a month, while hotels in the same area charged more than 150 yuan (US$20) per night.

Zheng also took on work as a medical escort at the hospital after regaining his health. The role involved assisting patients with online registration, accompanying them during visits, handling hospital procedures, and guiding them through large medical complexes. The occupation has gained popularity in recent years, particularly among elderly people who live alone or whose children are based elsewhere.

Every afternoon after work, Zheng stood outside the hospital with a cardboard sign, displaying details of the House of Compassion and inviting relatives who seemed to be struggling to stay at his flat.

He said that since opening four years ago, the house had hosted more than 300 families. Some stayed only a few days, while others remained for a month or more. “They could stay as long as they wanted according to their needs,” he explained.

Guests were also offered free supplies such as rice, noodles and cooking oil to prepare meals for themselves and their patients. Some of those who had benefitted from the arrangement later contributed by purchasing daily items for the home.

One woman who had stayed at the house said she was grateful, adding that Zheng had restored her belief in human kindness. Online users also praised his efforts. “He had been caught in the rain, so he knew how important it was to hold an umbrella for others,” one wrote. Another remarked: “He helps those who are burdened by illness see the light of hope.”