Ward Stories | He Accompanied His Son Through a “Second Childhood”

“1-2-1-2… Now swing your right arm—yes! Great job… You’re doing fantastic, son!” At Nanjing Zijin Hospital, Old Xu, well into his sixties, is accompanying his son, Little Xu, as they undergo gait training, offering words of encouragement and giving him a thumbs-up from time to time. Each time, Little Xu returns the gesture with a thumbs-up or presses his forehead against his father’s in a tender moment, just as he used to when he was little.

In recent months, to his father, Xiao Xu has become a “reborn” child. One day in August 2019, an elevator malfunction caused him to fall into the shaft. After emergency treatment and surgery, he survived, but remained unconscious; it was only by the end of 2019 that he began to recover, leaving him with right-sided hemiplegia, aphasia, and other lingering symptoms. Originally working in the engineering field, Old Xu put his job aside from the very first day his son was injured and, together with his wife, devoted himself entirely to caring for his son.

In the impression of Wang Yaqin, head nurse of the ward, whenever she sees Xiao Xu, she is sure to see Lao Xu as well. “We’re used to seeing the ‘kind mother and strict father’ dynamic, but this father is different—he speaks to his son with extraordinary gentleness, never letting even a trace of reproach or impatience slip through.”

Xiao Xu has also gradually learned to show his father’s love in different ways: he always sets aside some of the meat dishes on his own plate for his dad; whenever he takes a sip of milk or a drink, he makes sure his father gets a taste too. He even secretly tossed away the steamed cake his father had warmed up when no one was looking. Old Xu understands his son’s thoughtfulness: “He’s worried about my blood sugar and doesn’t want me to eat it.”

Rehabilitation therapist Wang Chao recalls that little Xu was never late for his sessions; his father always accompanied him, arriving early to wait in the rehabilitation hall. During training, his father offered timely encouragement, which kept his son from slacking off. Learning from the therapist’s approach, Xu’s father also had him practice repeatedly in everyday activities—eating, dressing, and grooming—so little Xu progressed much faster than most patients.

Today, Xiao Xu can not only walk on his own and climb stairs, but he can also say, “Dad, I love you”—albeit slowly, with clear enunciation and standard pronunciation. As Xiao Xu draws closer to the goal of becoming fully independent, Old Xu has nonetheless become keenly aware of another obstacle standing in the way of his son’s journey toward autonomy: his psychological dependence on his parents. On one occasion, Old Xu deliberately asked the therapist to tell his son, “Dad has some business and will be home for a few days,” after which Xiao Xu’s mood noticeably dipped.

The gentle Old Xu has a steadfast side: on June 18, he truly left the hospital and went home. He told his therapist that this time he would be away for ten days, allowing his son to face more moments on his own. He wasn’t worried about this brief separation; over the past few months, he had already witnessed his son’s resilience. Ever since Xu began relearning how to walk as a child, he had been gradually letting go.

This is Old Xu: as a father, when his child faces a devastating blow in life, he remains both gentle and resolute—optimistic yet clear-headed—calmly guiding them to rebuild their life’s rainbow.

Photo credit: Wang Yaqin, Ouyang Shuran

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