57-year-old grandmother, Xiang Yuncui, walks five kilometres of mountain paths daily to carry her granddaughter to school in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. As walks to school go, 57-year-old Xiang Yuncui and her granddaughter Tan's is truly gruelling.
Tan, seven, has cerebral palsy and can't walk, so every morning for the last three years, her granny has carried her the five kilometres to school, waited for her, and carried her home across southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. The pair's route takes them over tough mountain roads, and Xiang frequently falls in winter.
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Incredibly though, the two have never been late for school, even though the walk takes around two hours on a good day. It is estimated Xiang has carried Tan, now seven, over 10,000 km. And she says she will carry on for as long as she has the strength.
The school has boarding facilities, but Tan cannot use them because of her disabilities, although she is provided with free schooling and meals in recognition of her condition. The pair's plight has become well known in the region, and local party officials have agreed to provide Tan with surgery to try and improve her condition.
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3 comments:
What an amazing story. I hope that they are able to get help for their plight.
Great story, thanks.
Maybe the publicity will help they're plight.
I am a freelance writer-disablity rights advocate from New Brunswick, Canada and have communicated via e-mail with an assortment of personnel in China - in their social services sector and with the health and education ministries. Young Tan is 7 years old with what looks to be spastic diplegic cerebral palsy - she walks. I am 58 years old with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. You may view some of my writing at
http://users.xplornet.com/~terrier
As things progress and I get a response, I shall let you all know what's going on. I've requested assistance for both grandmother (possibly a vehicle) and for the child (therapeutic devices). Her education is at risk if something happens to Grandmother and that would be very sad, as most children with that type of cerebral palsy are very often gifted with above average IQ. CP has its compensations :)
Best to all!
Cheers!
Carla MacInnis Rockwell
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