For physically fit students, attending school is a normal, everyday process. But not for Yan Xiaoyan, as any minor cut or injury may cause him bleed non-stop.

The 9-year-old boy suffers from haemophilia, or the absence of clotting factors in his blood that work to stop bleeding. It means he is confined to his seat most of the time as his classmates jump and play.

"Even though he doesn't tell, I know he wants to get involved with classmates, but he is so vulnerable," said his mother, who gave up her job so she could look after Yan throughout the day. She is at Yan's school during the intervals between classes to watch over him.

However, even such attention can't rule out the possibility of an injury. Three months ago, Yan fell to the ground heavily as a result of a prank by a mischievous classmate. Two days later, he was found bleeding in the kidney. It took about a week to control the internal bleeding, his mother said.

Once a week, Yan has to be injected with factor concentrates or has to receive blood transfusions to acquire clotting factors. His medical fees amount to 1,000 yuan (US$123.46) per month, but may multiply if an accidental injury occurs. This is a heavy burden for a family that relies solely on Yan's father, who earns 2,400 yuan a month.

When asked about his New Year wish, the boy thought for a second, then said: "I hope my mom and dad will have less worry on me, and I will work harder to improve my math."

Editor: Yan