From wheelchair-bound to academic success: a teenager's journey

Relying on just two fingers to write, Dong Yichao has persevered and achieved academic success, scoring 632 in the gaokao, or the national college entrance exam, in 2023, ranking 741 out of more than 300,000 students in East China's Jiangsu province.

In December 2014, Dong's life took an unexpected turn when he suddenly experienced a loss of strength in his limbs and was diagnosed with anterior spinal artery occlusion syndrome, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down. Bleak predictions were made, suggesting that Dong would spend the rest of his life in a hospital bed.

Refusing to accept this prognosis, Dong's parents sought an alternative solution. They transferred him to another hospital, where he underwent intensive treatment for over two months. Gradually, signs of progress emerged, and Dong's once immobile body began showing small movements. "My mind was quite clear, thinking about going back to school some day," said Dong in an interview with Yangtse Evening Post.

Through the assistance of the hospital's rehabilitation program, Dong made gradual strides towards recovery. Eventually, he regained partial mobility on one side of his body. His fingers and toes started to move once again. After a three-year hiatus from his studies, Dong returned to the classroom and secured a place at Qidong High School in Jiangsu, excelling academically.

Due to his illness, Dong could only write with two fingers. "It's difficult for me to even hold two books," he explained. When doing homework, he would crawl on the desk, lower his head and struggle to grip the pen with only two fingers. Initially, he could only write 300 characters in an hour, but through practice, he managed to write over 600 characters.

To facilitate care for her son, Qidong High School arranged an on-campus cleaning job for Dong's mother Gu Weihua. This enabled her to be available for her son while also earning a living. The school also provided them with a dormitory and ensured that Dong's classroom was on the ground floor. The student was given a specially equipped desk and wheelchair, allowing him to have a normal high school life.

"I will accompany my son every step of the way, no matter where he goes," the mother said. Once Dong decides on his major in college, they will pack their bags and set off towards the next chapter of their lives.

Dong's dream is to be a teacher. "In college, I won't relax in my studies. I want to learn more knowledge and skills," he said.