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Elderly Woman Walks 15 Miles A Day To Get Disabled Grandson To School

Elderly Woman Walks 15 Miles A Day To Get Disabled Grandson To School

Shi Yuying makes four return trips to her grandson's school every day to ensure he gets the best education possible...

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

If you've ever complained about having to walk to school, those qualms will seem null and void when compared to this Chinese grandma. The 76-year-old walks an impressive 15 miles (24 kilometres) every day because she has to push her disabled grandson to school.

Credit: Pear News

Nine-year-old Jiang Haowen suffers from cerebral palsy, a group of brain condition that affect movement and co-ordination. NHS Choices says it's caused by a 'problem with the brain that occurs before, during or soon after birth'.

According to Netease, the boy's parents are divorced, with his mum remarrying and cracking on with that new life, while the dad is working in a different city to help support the family.

Grandmother Shi Yuying has an inspirational attitude towards helping Haowen get an education: "As long as I have strength, I will carry on [pushing him]."

The Daily Mail says she has to make four trips to the school every day, once in the morning, once at midday, once in the afternoon and a final one in the evening.

Pear Video

The elderly woman used a bike to get him to school every day, however last year, local authorities provided the pair with a wheelchair. She says that despite his condition, he's particularly skilled at maths.

Jiang was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was just two years old.

Shi and the boy's father took him to Nanning and Liuzhou hospitals for treatment as he was struggling to walk or talk. Huanqiu News says once the diagnosis and initial treatment were done, the family was hit hard with all the medical bills and quickly got into debt.

Despite this, the dedicated grandma is on the lookout for a school that can fully cater to Jiang's needs.

Pear Video

There are several things that can cause a baby to develop cerebral palsy, including bleeding in the baby's brain or reduced blood and oxygen supply to their brain, an infection caught by the mum during pregnancy, the brain not getting enough oxygen temporarily during a difficult birth, meningitis or a serious head injury.

There's no cure for sufferers, though there are several treatments available to help the person become more independent. There's physiotherapy, which includes exercise and stretching, speech therapy, medication for muscle stiffness and occupational therapy.

NHS Choices says most children with the affliction can live into adult life and live for several decades.

There's no denying Shi's determination to keep Jiang learning in his young years and hopefully he gets the treatment and support he needs to live a long life.

Sources: NHS Choices, Netease, Daily Mail, Huanqiu News

Featured Image Credit: Pear Video

Topics: School, Interesting, Feels, Community, Education