Ward Stories | Pressing the Shutter to Capture Every Step of the Recovery Journey

Little Chen Chen fell into a fever-induced coma and was transferred to Nanjing Zijin Hospital in mid-May. Over the past five months, every small step of his recovery has been captured by his mother on her phone.

“This is a photo of Chenchen in the ICU, taken on the sixth day after he was admitted.” His eyes were dull and lifeless, and his family couldn’t be by his side every moment. That was the most agonizing time—his mother and grandmother waiting outside the door.

(The image has been hand-drawn to protect the subject’s privacy; the same applies below.)

“In June, during a video call with Dad, Chenchen actually managed to smile!” Her eyes glistened faintly—this radiant smile was the greatest comfort she could offer her parents.

In July, Chenchen showed marked improvement, able to turn his head independently and exhibiting more emotional ups and downs in daily life. “This is a snapshot I caught: he was tearing a book, and when I scolded him, his little lips pouted in obvious disappointment.” Seeing how pitifully sad Chenchen looked, on the verge of tears, his mom—who had been quite annoyed just moments before—immediately softened and captured the moment with her camera.