Chinese actress and host Guan Ling, who has appeared in dramas such as “The Story of Chenghuan,” “I Love My Family,” “Leisurely Ma Dajie,” “Star-Making,” and “Happy Youth,” recently posted a video apologizing to her eldest son, saying: “Because of my carelessness, he had to get four stitches.”
It turns out her 13-year-old son had a lump near the end of his eyebrow. She thought it was a pimple, so she casually used a disposable needle to prick it. Unexpectedly, the lump grew bigger and bigger, eventually getting so serious that he had to go to the hospital’s surgery department for an abscess drainage procedure. In the end, they made a cross-shaped incision and needed four stitches to treat it.
She said her son is at the age when teenagers get pimples, but this time, it wasn’t an ordinary break-out. She admitted to feeling scared afterwards, saying that the day after she pricked it, the lump swelled and became shiny, and her son was in so much pain he kept grimacing. That’s when she panicked and rushed him to the hospital.
The hospital diagnosed him with facial cellulitis, and the abscess had already formed. It was only when they were transferred from dermatology to surgery that Guan Ling realized how serious the problem was.
The hospital diagnosed him with facial cellulitis, and the abscess had already formed. It was only when they were transferred from dermatology to surgery that Guan Ling realized how serious the problem was.
Sharing Her Son’s Medical Journey Gains Praise
She said watching her son enter the operating room finally let her understand what “heart-wrenching” feels like. What made her feel the worst was that after the surgery, her son didn’t cry or complain; instead, he took the health insurance card and rode his bike to get his dressing changed, even comforting her by saying he didn’t blame her. Her son’s maturity made her, as a mother, feel even more guilty.
Doctors later reminded her that her son was actually lucky with the position of the abscess. If it had been a few centimeters closer to the center—the triangle formed between the bridge of the nose and the corners of the mouth—squeezing could have caused bacteria to flow backward into the cranial cavity, potentially triggering a brain infection. In the past, there have been actual cases where someone developed a lung abscess or even ended up in intensive care just from squeezing pimples.
Guan Ling candidly shared photos of the stitches and detailed the surgery process, which some people praised as the courage to “air dirty laundry in public.” Many found this far more moving than the polished parenting advice seen elsewhere. The incident also became an opportunity for public health education.
Her final reflections also received positive feedback. She talked about how, when her child is sick, all she wishes for is his health; but once he’s better, she starts hoping he’ll score perfectly in all his classes. As parents, our desires are always being readjusted. This sentiment resonated deeply with many readers.