Recently, a video of a post‑90s girl dancing beside her ailing mother in a wheelchair has touched countless netizens. Many have offered words of encouragement: “Hang in there! After the storm, there’s always a rainbow.” Liu Xiaodan, 28, used to be a dance instructor at an arts school in Nanjing. On May 30, her mother was left paralyzed and nearly unconscious following a car accident. To provide devoted care during her mother’s critical post‑operative recovery period, Liu Xiaodan quit her job as a dance teacher. Though many urged her to hire professional caregivers, she believes that family companionship will help her mother heal more effectively. Whenever she wheels her mother outside the hospital room for some fresh air, Liu Xiaodan always performs a dance for her: “I’m a dance teacher, and my mom is my loyal audience. I hope my dances can give her strength and bring her joy every day.”

The girl quit her job as a dance teacher.

Spending every day by my sick mother’s side.

“When my mother was in a car accident, I had already decided to quit my job!” Liu Xiaodan, 28, began studying dance in 2009. After graduating from university, she worked as a dance teacher at an art school in Nanjing, teaching more than 200 children.

On the evening of May 30 this year, she had just finished a day of dance classes and was getting ready to head home to rest. Her younger brother called her and said, “Sis, Mom’s been in a car accident!”

She couldn’t believe it and drove back to her hometown in Suzhou, Anhui, from Nanjing that very night. When she arrived at the hospital, Liu Xiaodan saw that her mother was still in the emergency room: “I was terribly anxious at the time, but I firmly believed my mother would pull through and wouldn’t leave my younger brother and me behind.”

After emergency treatment, Liu Xiaodan’s mother was out of immediate danger but remained paralyzed in bed and nearly unconscious. On the 11th day after surgery, the doctors told her, “Your mother’s injuries are very severe; if she isn’t transferred to a major city for treatment, she will likely be left in a vegetative state.” Liu Xiaodan said that, in order to save her mother, they went to several hospitals before finally being admitted to Nanjing Zijin Hospital.

“My younger brother is in junior high, and my father has to work; there’s no one else at home who can take care of my mother.” To pay for her treatment, Liu Xiaodan and her family have already spent more than 500,000 yuan, and she even sold her car.

“The doctor told me that the next six months are a golden period for recovery, so I didn’t want to miss this window and hoped my mother could regain her health as fully as possible.” At first, Liu Xiaodan tried to juggle classes with caring for her mother, but soon realized that looking after her required immense energy. In August, she decided to quit her job altogether and devote herself entirely to being by her mother’s side. A Ziniu News reporter noticed that in the corner of the hospital room stood the livestreaming stand Liu Xiaodan had used to teach her students during the pandemic. She said, “After spending so much time with these kids, I’ve grown attached to them—I really can’t bear to part with them.”

After Liu Xiaodan resigned, these students would still call her, and each time they’d chat at length. She would always encourage them to keep honing their dance skills: “Though I’m stepping away for now, you all must keep studying and hold fast to your dream of dancing.”

Every day, I feed my mom by putting food into her nostrils.

I often fall when I carry my mom out of bed.

Every morning at 8 a.m., after helping her mother bathe and change her diaper, Liu Xiaodan begins to cook, preparing enough meals for the entire day each time. Typically, she first cuts the cooked food into small pieces, then uses a high‑speed blender to puree it. “The food has to be blended very finely; otherwise, it could clog my mother’s feeding tube.”

Liu Xiaodan is cooking for her mom.

That day, Liu Xiaodan prepared sweet potatoes and beef for her mother, along with celery and carrots—“all nutritious foods she loves!” She used a large syringe to feed her mom, drawing up the pureed meal from a high‑speed blender and then gently injecting it through her mother’s feeding tube. “The act of feeding is simple, but it requires great care; I have to do it six times a day.”

Liu Xiaodan is feeding her mother.

During the initial period of caring for her mother, Liu Xiaodan’s greatest challenge was simply being unable to lift her. “Carrying her in and out of bed was extremely difficult—at first, I couldn’t manage it at all, and there were even instances when I accidentally fell to the floor. I’d quickly call over a nurse for help, and once I even ended up falling right onto the bed.” Over time, Liu Xiaodan honed her technique and learned how to lift her mother more efficiently, conserving both her strength and energy.

“My mother is unable to care for herself; I handle everything—eating, drinking, and toileting—and the pressure is immense.” At the hospital, Liu Xiaodan spends each day bathing her mother, preparing meals, feeding her, and helping her with exercises. Since urination aids recovery, she makes sure her mother drinks plenty of water every day. “But the more my mother drinks, the more often I have to change her diapers, which only adds to my workload.”

During the time she has been caring for her mother, Liu Xiaodan has never once eaten a meal in peace; every morning, she nibbles on a couple of bites of bread by her mother’s bedside. Her greatest wish right now is for her mother to recover soon, so they can all sit down together for a reunion dinner.

Liu Xiaodan is taking care of her mother.

Dancing by my mother’s wheelchair

I hope dance can give Mom strength.

“My mom is my most devoted audience. She’s always loved watching me dance, so I hope my performances can give her strength, keep her happy every day, and help her recover even faster,” Liu Xiaodan said, referring to the videos she posts online. Whenever she has a moment of free time, she pushes her mom out of the hospital room in her wheelchair for a stroll. In areas with more space, she stops the wheelchair and dances for her mom right there.

Liu Xiaodan danced for her mother by the wheelchair.

Liu Xiaodan loves dancing Chinese dance. After finishing each piece, she always asks, “Mom, did I dance beautifully?” Liu Xiaodan says, “Although Mom can’t speak, she always looks at me and smiles endlessly; you can tell from her eyes that she really loves the dances I perform.”

Liu Xiaodan is dancing.

Regarding Liu Xiaodan’s dancing beside her mother’s wheelchair, the doctors have also expressed their support and approval. Pan Xingming, deputy director of the ward at Nanjing Zijin Hospital, said that Liu Xiaodan’s mother was transferred to the hospital on June 13. At first, she was disoriented and in a typical vegetative state. After more than a month of treatment, her condition has improved, and she is now able to perform some simple motor tasks, such as extending her fingers or closing her eyes. “The patient’s condition is gradually improving,” Pan Xingming noted, “but her cognitive function remains quite low, and her swallowing ability is still poor. Further treatment will be necessary going forward.”

“In addition to the hospital’s precision medicine, the round-the-clock care and companionship provided by the patient’s family have also been immensely helpful,” said Pan Xingming. He noted that the patient’s daughter, in her twenties, quit her job to care for her mother, which deeply moved the medical team. He added that the warm, affectionate calls from family members can play a significant role in the patient’s recovery of consciousness. Dr. Pan remarked, “The patient’s daughter is a dance instructor; throughout the course of treatment, the stimuli she provides—through her voice and movements—may have a positive impact on the patient’s level of awareness.”

It feels like the mother and daughter have switched roles.

Mom often acts cute in front of me.

“It feels like I’ve switched roles—she’s the daughter, and I’m the mother.” Liu Xiaodan often recalls the scenes from her childhood when her mother cared for her, which has helped her appreciate just how challenging it was for her mother to look after her. Liu Xiaodan says that her mother can no longer move her limbs or feed herself; every day requires painstaking, step-by-step training, as if she were teaching a young child.

“At night, I have to suction my mom’s secretions—once every half hour—and change nearly 20 diapers a day.” With her mother requiring round-the-clock care, Liu Xiaodan is always by her side. Before bed each evening, she ties up her mother’s hands and feet: “My mom’s mind isn’t clear, so I have to secure her limbs; otherwise, she might turn over, kick off the covers, or even pull out her feeding tube or oxygen tube.”

Liu Xiaodan is taking care of her mother.

As soon as she hears even the slightest sound from her mother, Liu Xiaodan immediately climbs out of her folding bed. Seeing her mother in pain, she often breaks down and weeps late at night, but afterward she pulls herself together again: “I tell myself to endure a little longer, to hang in there—every hardship will pass!”

Many people suggested that Liu Xiaodan hire a caregiver, but she believes her mother would recover better with the company of family. Some even asked, “How can you be so strong at such a young age?” Liu Xiaodan always replies, “My mother gave birth to me and raised me; without her, there would be no me today.”

During the time she’s been caring for her mother, Liu Xiaodan often recalls the days when she would lie in her mother’s arms, acting cute and spoiled. “Now my mom’s cognitive abilities are like those of a three-year-old. Every day, when she sees me, she deliberately starts crying—she longs for the comfort of having loved ones by her side. And I, too, hope she can freely act childlike and cling to me without restraint.”

Lately, Liu Xiaodan has been very happy—her mother is gradually regaining consciousness. She says, “Whether or not my mother remembers me in the future, I just hope she can be a little happier, living each day as carefree as a child.”

Speaking about her plans for the future, Liu Xiaodan said she intends to look for work again once her mother has passed through this “golden recovery period.” “Her condition won’t improve overnight, and we’ll certainly need substantial medical expenses down the road. So I’d like to wait until she’s a bit better, find a stable job, and then hire a caregiver to help us live comfortably together.”
 

(Yangtze Evening News reporters: Yan Chunxu, Zhang Bingjing)

Recently, a video of a post‑90s girl dancing beside her ailing mother in a wheelchair has touched countless netizens. Many have offered words of encouragement: “Hang in there! After the storm, there’s always a rainbow.” Liu Xiaodan, 28, used to be a dance instructor at an arts school in Nanjing. On May 30, her mother was left paralyzed and nearly unconscious following a car accident. To provide devoted care during her mother’s critical post‑operative recovery period, Liu Xiaodan quit her job as a dance teacher. Though many urged her to hire professional caregivers, she believes that family companionship will help her mother heal more effectively. Whenever she wheels her mother outside the hospital room for some fresh air, Liu Xiaodan always performs a dance for her: “I’m a dance teacher, and my mom is my loyal audience. I hope my dances can give her strength and bring her joy every day.”

The girl quit her job as a dance teacher.

Spending every day by my sick mother’s side.

“When my mother was in a car accident, I had already decided to quit my job!” Liu Xiaodan, 28, began studying dance in 2009. After graduating from university, she worked as a dance teacher at an art school in Nanjing, teaching more than 200 children.

On the evening of May 30 this year, she had just finished a day of dance classes and was getting ready to head home to rest. Her younger brother called her and said, “Sis, Mom’s been in a car accident!”

She couldn’t believe it and drove back to her hometown in Suzhou, Anhui, from Nanjing that very night. When she arrived at the hospital, Liu Xiaodan saw that her mother was still in the emergency room: “I was terribly anxious at the time, but I firmly believed my mother would pull through and wouldn’t leave my younger brother and me behind.”

After emergency treatment, Liu Xiaodan’s mother was out of immediate danger but remained paralyzed in bed and nearly unconscious. On the 11th day after surgery, the doctors told her, “Your mother’s injuries are very severe; if she isn’t transferred to a major city for treatment, she will likely be left in a vegetative state.” Liu Xiaodan said that, in order to save her mother, they went to several hospitals before finally being admitted to Nanjing Zijin Hospital.

“My younger brother is in junior high, and my father has to work; there’s no one else at home who can take care of my mother.” To pay for her treatment, Liu Xiaodan and her family have already spent more than 500,000 yuan, and she even sold her car.

“The doctor told me that the next six months are a golden period for recovery, so I didn’t want to miss this window and hoped my mother could regain her health as fully as possible.” At first, Liu Xiaodan tried to juggle classes with caring for her mother, but soon realized that looking after her required immense energy. In August, she decided to quit her job altogether and devote herself entirely to being by her mother’s side. A Ziniu News reporter noticed that in the corner of the hospital room stood the livestreaming stand Liu Xiaodan had used to teach her students during the pandemic. She said, “After spending so much time with these kids, I’ve grown attached to them—I really can’t bear to part with them.”

After Liu Xiaodan resigned, these students would still call her, and each time they’d chat at length. She would always encourage them to keep honing their dance skills: “Though I’m stepping away for now, you all must keep studying and hold fast to your dream of dancing.”

Every day, I feed my mom by putting food into her nostrils.

I often fall when I carry my mom out of bed.

Every morning at 8 a.m., after helping her mother bathe and change her diaper, Liu Xiaodan begins to cook, preparing enough meals for the entire day each time. Typically, she first cuts the cooked food into small pieces, then uses a high‑speed blender to puree it. “The food has to be blended very finely; otherwise, it could clog my mother’s feeding tube.”

Liu Xiaodan is cooking for her mom.

That day, Liu Xiaodan prepared sweet potatoes and beef for her mother, along with celery and carrots—“all nutritious foods she loves!” She used a large syringe to feed her mom, drawing up the pureed meal from a high‑speed blender and then gently injecting it through her mother’s feeding tube. “The act of feeding is simple, but it requires great care; I have to do it six times a day.”

Liu Xiaodan is feeding her mother.

During the initial period of caring for her mother, Liu Xiaodan’s greatest challenge was simply being unable to lift her. “Carrying her in and out of bed was extremely difficult—at first, I couldn’t manage it at all, and there were even instances when I accidentally fell to the floor. I’d quickly call over a nurse for help, and once I even ended up falling right onto the bed.” Over time, Liu Xiaodan honed her technique and learned how to lift her mother more efficiently, conserving both her strength and energy.

“My mother is unable to care for herself; I handle everything—eating, drinking, and toileting—and the pressure is immense.” At the hospital, Liu Xiaodan spends each day bathing her mother, preparing meals, feeding her, and helping her with exercises. Since urination aids recovery, she makes sure her mother drinks plenty of water every day. “But the more my mother drinks, the more often I have to change her diapers, which only adds to my workload.”

During the time she has been caring for her mother, Liu Xiaodan has never once eaten a meal in peace; every morning, she nibbles on a couple of bites of bread by her mother’s bedside. Her greatest wish right now is for her mother to recover soon, so they can all sit down together for a reunion dinner.

Liu Xiaodan is taking care of her mother.

Dancing by my mother’s wheelchair

I hope dance can give Mom strength.

“My mom is my most devoted audience. She’s always loved watching me dance, so I hope my performances can give her strength, keep her happy every day, and help her recover even faster,” Liu Xiaodan said, referring to the videos she posts online. Whenever she has a moment of free time, she pushes her mom out of the hospital room in her wheelchair for a stroll. In areas with more space, she stops the wheelchair and dances for her mom right there.

Liu Xiaodan danced for her mother by the wheelchair.

Liu Xiaodan loves dancing Chinese dance. After finishing each piece, she always asks, “Mom, did I dance beautifully?” Liu Xiaodan says, “Although Mom can’t speak, she always looks at me and smiles endlessly; you can tell from her eyes that she really loves the dances I perform.”

Liu Xiaodan is dancing.

Regarding Liu Xiaodan’s dancing beside her mother’s wheelchair, the doctors have also expressed their support and approval. Pan Xingming, deputy director of the ward at Nanjing Zijin Hospital, said that Liu Xiaodan’s mother was transferred to the hospital on June 13. At first, she was disoriented and in a typical vegetative state. After more than a month of treatment, her condition has improved, and she is now able to perform some simple motor tasks, such as extending her fingers or closing her eyes. “The patient’s condition is gradually improving,” Pan Xingming noted, “but her cognitive function remains quite low, and her swallowing ability is still poor. Further treatment will be necessary going forward.”

“In addition to the hospital’s precision medicine, the round-the-clock care and companionship provided by the patient’s family have also been immensely helpful,” said Pan Xingming. He noted that the patient’s daughter, in her twenties, quit her job to care for her mother, which deeply moved the medical team. He added that the warm, affectionate calls from family members can play a significant role in the patient’s recovery of consciousness. Dr. Pan remarked, “The patient’s daughter is a dance instructor; throughout the course of treatment, the stimuli she provides—through her voice and movements—may have a positive impact on the patient’s level of awareness.”

It feels like the mother and daughter have switched roles.

Mom often acts cute in front of me.

“It feels like I’ve switched roles—she’s the daughter, and I’m the mother.” Liu Xiaodan often recalls the scenes from her childhood when her mother cared for her, which has helped her appreciate just how challenging it was for her mother to look after her. Liu Xiaodan says that her mother can no longer move her limbs or feed herself; every day requires painstaking, step-by-step training, as if she were teaching a young child.

“At night, I have to suction my mom’s secretions—once every half hour—and change nearly 20 diapers a day.” With her mother requiring round-the-clock care, Liu Xiaodan is always by her side. Before bed each evening, she ties up her mother’s hands and feet: “My mom’s mind isn’t clear, so I have to secure her limbs; otherwise, she might turn over, kick off the covers, or even pull out her feeding tube or oxygen tube.”

Liu Xiaodan is taking care of her mother.

As soon as she hears even the slightest sound from her mother, Liu Xiaodan immediately climbs out of her folding bed. Seeing her mother in pain, she often breaks down and weeps late at night, but afterward she pulls herself together again: “I tell myself to endure a little longer, to hang in there—every hardship will pass!”

Many people suggested that Liu Xiaodan hire a caregiver, but she believes her mother would recover better with the company of family. Some even asked, “How can you be so strong at such a young age?” Liu Xiaodan always replies, “My mother gave birth to me and raised me; without her, there would be no me today.”

During the time she’s been caring for her mother, Liu Xiaodan often recalls the days when she would lie in her mother’s arms, acting cute and spoiled. “Now my mom’s cognitive abilities are like those of a three-year-old. Every day, when she sees me, she deliberately starts crying—she longs for the comfort of having loved ones by her side. And I, too, hope she can freely act childlike and cling to me without restraint.”

Lately, Liu Xiaodan has been very happy—her mother is gradually regaining consciousness. She says, “Whether or not my mother remembers me in the future, I just hope she can be a little happier, living each day as carefree as a child.”

Speaking about her plans for the future, Liu Xiaodan said she intends to look for work again once her mother has passed through this “golden recovery period.” “Her condition won’t improve overnight, and we’ll certainly need substantial medical expenses down the road. So I’d like to wait until she’s a bit better, find a stable job, and then hire a caregiver to help us live comfortably together.”
 

(Yangtze Evening News reporters: Yan Chunxu, Zhang Bingjing)