Orthopedic specialist brings hope to 400 disabled quake survivors for over 10 years

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04:54

CGTN

At 14:28:04, May 12, 2008, a massive earthquake of M8.0 struck Wenchuan, Sichuan Province in China.

Official statistics show that the disaster caused 69,227 deaths and 374,643 injuries.

The aftermath of Wenchuan earthquake /VCG Photo

Among all the casualties, 5,335 students were reported as either dead or missing, and 546 children now suffer from a lifelong disability.

The aftermath of Wenchuan earthquake /VCG Photo

They have long lives ahead of them, which they now have to live with a disability. Prosthetists like Zou Youce, however, bring them new hope.

Zou Youce / VCG Photo

Zou was born in Shenyang, Liaoning Province. In 2008 when the disaster happened, he was working in Beijing for a prosthetics company in technical training and prosthesis fitting as a prosthetist and orthotist.

At that time in Sichuan, people were busy treating the injured. A large number of amputees were sent to the Rehabilitation Medicine Department of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital in Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan. The department was later financed by the Hong Kong SAR Government. Medical staff of both regions have been working here since for the survivors that require ongoing support.

CGTN Photo

Zou came to Chengdu in October, 2008, bringing a number of prosthetic joints and feet from his company. Without telling his family, he stayed and became one of the two resident prosthetists in the department.

"I will never forget what I saw in the hall of the hospital," says Zou. There were more than 60 patients, most of whom lost their limbs. "I wanted them to wear the prosthetics as soon as possible, so that they could stand up and walk around without the help of other people."

He didn't expect to stay there for 10 years. He was the representative of the company, then a volunteer of Stand TALL, a Hong Kong-based charity organization. Now he is an orthopedist in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department. Under the changing titles, his job remains the same.

CGTN Photo

VCG Photo

As the children grow, they become taller, they gain weight and they lose weight. Zou has to adjust their prostheses from time to time. "The prosthetic socket is where the residual limb and the prosthesis attach. The size of the prosthesis has to fit, otherwise it's like wearing shoes of the wrong size. If it's too small, you'd feel squeezed. If it's too loose, it would fall off."

CGTN Photo

Many of these children visit him regularly, calling him "brother Zou." He has been taking part in their lives in his own way.

"Something made me very sad recently," a girl who has her prosthetic leg fitted by Zou says. "But after talking to brother Zou, I recalled the time when I was 12 years old. I was brave enough to stand up again, to take every step by myself. 10 years have passed. I've grown up. I should be braver now."

"It's hard to do the same thing every day for 10 years," says another girl. "We are tough physically, yet brother Zou has a strong willpower, and I admire him for that."

Ping-pong player Wang Rui, breaststroke champion Dai Guohong and skier Zhao Mi, were all victims of the Wenchuan earthquake and were treated by Zou. Many of his patients have returned to the department as volunteers.

CGTN Photo

Zou has treated more than 400 amputees in the past 10 years. He helped the children find a self-supporting and dignified way of living, in return they helped him find the meaning of his life. Although he misses his hometown, Zou has taken root in the beautiful and recovering city, feeling "even prouder of this choice.”

The story is one in The 1.3 Billion series exploring the diverse lives that make up China.