Culture
22:30, 23-May-2019
Grandma helps girl with ALS live full life
Updated
22:46, 23-May-2019
["china"]
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Just like other children her age, Liu Xuannuo spends most of her time in school. But her seemingly normal life would not be possible without the help of her grandma, Zhang Xinrui. The teenage girl was diagnosed at the age of 3 with the motor neuron disease known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects more than 100,000 people across China.
With both parents busy working to support the family, her grandma took over the job of taking care of the girl. Her grandma's companionship gives Liu the chance to get out of bed and go to school like other children.
"She is not disabled mentally. Why not let her live like an ordinary child? I'll be her leg. I'll take her everywhere. What other children have, I won't let her miss," said Zhang.
With her grandma's care, Liu has grown to be one of the top students in her school and has been awarded the honor of "merit student" many times. But Grandma Zhang always wants the girl to see more. She took the girl across China, giving her granddaughter the chance to see what's out there in the world and how beautiful it is.
"My grandma has taken care of me since I was a little kid. I think she's like a pair of wings to me. I love her. I will live happily, and live well," said Liu.