Bearing burden of pain

"When my son grows up, I will give the bear to him and tell his father's story."

Li is among hundreds of people who have discovered the healing needlework of Xiao Jie (pseudonym), a 39-year-old craftswoman in Chongqing. Xiao's story took off on Sina Weibo, with related news being viewed 140 million times by April 6.

A graduate of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Xiao works at a leather studio. She got the idea from a Sina Weibo post in November, which tells the story of a 21-year-old British woman, Mary Maclnnes, who made teddy bears from the clothing of departed beloved ones to help soothe the pain of loss.

"Everyone will encounter moments of grief for deceased family or friends. It is a good way to help them honor the memory of their departed loved ones," Xiao says.

Ruan Jiaxin in Quanzhou, Fujian province, was the first to leave a comment under the post about Maclnnes saying that he wanted such a bear made from his father's clothing. Ruan's father died of cancer in 2017. Xiao sent him a message and her bear-making career began with a "father bear" for Ruan.

Using his father's Jack Wolfskin's gray-blue sweater, the unique bear with the logo sewn at the belly makes "his father touchable again", according to Ruan.

"Although I keep telling myself that he lives on in my memory, when I hugged the bear after receiving it, I burst into tears," the 24-year-old says.