Yang Zhiyang helps his mother Su Jing drink water at their home in Baoji City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 31, 2023. (Xinhua/Sun Zhenghao)
XI'AN, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- In a video that has gone viral in China, a young man can be seen diligently helping his mom brush her teeth, apply some light cosmetics, and assisting at mealtime. For 12 years, he has repeated the routine every day, which has caught the hearts of many Chinese netizens.
Yang Zhiyang, 22, lives in Baoji City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. He was only 10 when his mom Su Jing was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
"My mom was only 21 when she gave birth to me," said the man. "In order to save money to buy better milk powder for me, she even refused to take the bus in the sweltering summers when she went to work. Now it is my turn to take care of her."
Yang had no idea why his mom contracted the disease, and was told by doctors that there was no cure for it. His dad is a delivery man and has to work from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, so he started taking on all the chores from when he was just a teenager.
As the disease progressed, his mom experienced gradual loss of muscle control and muscle strength. He and his father had to take turns carrying her up and down the stairs of their apartment building.
This was just the beginning.
Su later suffered from an eating disorder, difficult swallowing, and she also lost the ability to speak. Whenever she needed something, she could only convey the message by typing on her phone.
Yang Zhiyang helps his mother Su Jing do exercise at their home in Baoji City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 31, 2023. (Xinhua/Sun Zhenghao)
As her situation deteriorated, the son managed to finish schooling. A sports major, Yang graduated from a vocational school in 2020. He previously worked part-time as a boxing coach and a delivery man, before quitting to take care of his mom full-time.
While local government provides subsidy to the family, over the past 12 years, Yang has helped his mom with washing, eating and exercise. "I have to be very patient when feeding her," he said. "On average, finishing a bowl of noodles takes about an hour."
Daily exercise can be very challenging for Su. However, each time, her son offers support by holding her hands and encouraging her throughout each session. "People with ALS get tired easily and I have to find different ways to motivate her," he said, noting that he likes to sing for his mom during her training sessions.
To uplift his mother's spirits, the young man learned how to apply makeup, dye her hair, and style it into braids. Despite the challenges of her limited mobility, he always made sure to take her shopping and to different restaurants.
He has recorded his interactions with mom in short videos, and sometimes he would do livestreams as well. They have garnered lots of blessings from netizens, some of whom even donated money or medicine to them.
"She raised me up, and I am just doing something that any son would do," he said during an interview with Xinhua, adding that, "I am doing my best to make her feel happy and secure." ■
