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The Story About Li Hua; The Folded Man

The Story About Li Hua; The Folded Man

Stained in a clean slate of canvas are our dreams. Li Hua also known as the “Folded Man” from China once desired to carry his family’s fortune until this blank artwork of dreams flew away. He tried to reach above. However, his body and spine curved throughout the years. The colors of the masterpiece he wanted to create vanished when his bones started to fold in two and his future.

The Story About Li Hua; The Folded Man

Thomas Yau releases a film with South China Morning Post about the 48-year-old Chinese national born in Panshi, Qiyang. Li Hua’s father served as a craftsman for the military. Meanwhile, her mother, who witnessed Li Hua’s body fold worked as a community staff. After finishing high school, Li Hua brought himself into the dedication of working in the cities until the symptoms of unfathomable body pain stroked him slowly.

When his life’s calendar turned twenty-seven, his body curved and showed an unexplainable sickness. Thought to be just arthritis, the local health officials determined that Li Hua was suffering from an autoimmune disease. This is known as ankylosing spondylitis, a rare condition that has captured the daily lives of over 3.2 million people worldwide. When he reached the age of forty, the Chinese man who once had an innocent smile could no longer be recognized. His face and spine curved until his head touched his legs.

Li Hua’s body became distorted over a decade, and the only person who witnessed his last gaze was his mother, who stood by his side. Tang Dongchen, Li Hua’s parent who is also a single mom, opened a small store to pursue life together with her son. Tang splits her money to allow her precious child to undergo a medical assessment. Years go by, and she finally earns money to fulfill the surgery of Li Hua. Despite this, most hospitals declined to conduct the operation. Yet she pulled strength that one day her family would become normal once again during his lifetime.

YouTube | South China Morning Post

The Folded Man and the taste of hope

Society has been cruelling for the family, especially for Li Hua, who spent half of his life in the crumbled world. And, the only glimmer of hope he saw was when he was able to find Dr. Tao Huiren, a spinal surgeon from Shenzhen Hospital. The folded man has received countless responses of ‘no’ but the only ‘yes,’ he desires.

Li Hua went under the knife and thorough examination before the surgery. Multiple medical experts from China gathered to be part of this dangerous and pioneer surgery to make Li Hua stand tall again. It took four operations for the folded man to regain his life and in between these times is her mother, who prays for success.

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When the heavens and Earth moved, Li Hua was finally able to see the world again and the painting he had left unfinished. In the middle of the pandemic, in November 2020, the hospital discharged Li Hua, the folded man. Who, as of today, remains in recovery to catch up to the life he missed.

YouTube | South China Morning Post

Li Hua and his dreams finally uncrumbles.

A pandemic miracle indeed that carved a smile on the faces of Li Hua and Tang Dongchen. Thus recently, the folded man has started to help her mother to maintain the small store they own. The crumbled dream begins to unfold once more, and the brush and paint strokes inspire the family and the millions who suffer from this autoimmune disease. It is the dusk of the life of Li Hua, but this story, indeed, is the daybreak as he finally smiles again.

Perhaps people who heard about the crumbled dreams of Li Hua may believe once more that the impossible could be conquered. And, so the world couldn’t stop wondering which breakthrough could rock the internet and melt the hearts of people who lost inspiration. What else could forbid a better life for someone who hopes to succeed?

YouTube | South China Morning Post

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