Qiu Huaide is a 26-year-old medical student at the Nanjing Medical University with a special condition that left many doctors scratching their heads.
This young man began developing asymmetrical walking disabilities in 2007 when he was only a freshman in high school, which only worsened as years went by.
In 2010, Qius hands began shaking uncontrollably.
Unsure of what exactly was wrong with his body, he decided to apply for medical school programs in order to find out more about whatever illness or disease he was unexpectedly suffering from. But despite his physical constraints, his mind remained determined and sharp as ever, scoring an impressive 645-point mark in his entry exam and ranking in the top 1% of applicants in the province.
His time was then split between his university workload and visits to the doctor's.
He would rush off to every hospitals outpatient service all over Nanjing in the hope of finally figuring out what was wrong with him, in vain. One medical expert told Qiu that his condition was hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) - an inherited disorder characterized by progressive weakness and spasticity of the legs - and that it was not treatable.
The more time he spent juggling between visiting hospitals and studying, the worse his condition became. It got so bad to the point where Qiu couldnt walk 300 meters from his dorm to class without leaning on to a wall.
April and May of that same year were Qius worst.
Putting one foot in front of the other felt like a challenge hed never thought of ever having to face, relying on two classmates to provide support and carry him back to school. His future was at stake, and the possibility of losing the ability to live independently entirely was frightening.
He struggled writing due to soreness in his shoulder and a lack of coordination, which also explained his inability to stand straight.
But even at his worst, Qiu never gave up. He continued living the best life he could by studying hard and focusing on earning top-of-his-class grades, which eventually rewarded him with a variety of scholarships.
In hindsight, 2010 was a tipping point for Qiu not just because of his worsening medical condition, but also because it was when he met his mentor, Li Jianan.
After learning about Qius struggles, Li suggested he take dopamine-related drugs which surprisingly improved his physical condition in just a few days.
After 3 to 5 days of taking the drugs, Qiu was able to walk with a cane.
A genetic test taken in 2016 eventually revealed that he had been suffering from a juvenile Parkinsons disease, also known as Young Onset Parkinsons, which affects one in 100,000 young patients. While there is no cure known to date, prescribed drugs and long-term rehabilitation training programs can help maintain the bodys function to somewhat normal levels.
He used this life-changing opportunity to turn his fate around by improving his strength at the gym. He was using crutches the first time he walking in, but persevered.
After a few months, he went from being unable to add weights to being able to bench press 60kg and do a dozen pull-ups in a row.
Gradually, Qiu began walking without crutches, and soon enough he would find himself run as his muscles continued to develop and gain strength.
From leaning on walls to being athletically lean and in control of his body again, Qiu achieved what once seemed impossible.
One of his latest accomplishments has been to run a 5-kilometer race without stopping.
However, his improvements didnt come without close and consistent treatment. To be able to enjoy all that he has enjoyed, Qiu is required to take his medicine 4 times a day and continue his rehabilitation training.
A very small price to pay for being able to carry out a normal life again.
Once physically dependent on others to help him get from one area to the next, Qiu has since become financially independent and moves himself around wherever he needs to go - including the doctor's.
He even received his medical practicing certificate and successfully passed his postgraduate defense!
"I'm now doing my PhD and always trying to push the boundaries of Parkinson's disease," he says. I hope that my life experience can help others affected by a particular disease to not only find the courage within themselves to face their illness, but also encourage them to trust the effectiveness of rehabilitation training and find the confidence to regain the life and leisures they once enjoyed. Because they can. You can. And you will.
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Source: longhoo.net
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