Ding Zheng (37) and his mother, Zou Hongyan (62), from Hubei Province in central China, have touched the hearts of many Chinese netizens with their inspiring story of overcoming adversity. Ding was diagnosed with cerebral palsy due to a medical error at birth in 1988.
Doctors and even Zou’s husband advised her to give up the baby. But Zou refused.
“I’m his mother. I took great care of Ding during pregnancy, and I will never give up on him no matter what happens,” she recalled.
As Ding grew, Zou noticed he had paralysis on the right side of his body and difficulty moving the left. However, his intelligence was unaffected by the condition.
Zou, a university lecturer, believed in her ability to raise her son successfully. She spent a year teaching Ding how to use chopsticks instead of a spoon—believing this would help him better integrate into society.
This resilient mother never cried when she saw her son in pain during rehabilitation sessions.
“If I cried, he would cry even louder,” she explained.
Back in the 1990s, Zou earned only $14 per month and had to spend about $2 a week on her son’s therapy. She often worked extra hours teaching and selling insurance to make ends meet.
In 1998, she divorced her husband due to his constant neglect and discriminatory attitude toward their son. Fortunately, her mother-in-law chose to stay and support her and Ding.
Zou said the phrase she heard most from her son growing up was:
“I can’t do it.”
To which she always replied:
“Try again.”
Ding excelled academically throughout elementary school and into university. After China’s national college entrance exam in 2007, he was accepted by several prestigious universities and eventually chose the highly respected Peking University.
He went on to pursue a graduate degree in law at Peking University. His professors encouraged him to apply to the Master of Law program at Harvard University in the U.S.
Ding completed his master’s program and passed the New York State Bar Exam within just one year. He now works as a legal advisor at a company in his hometown.
In a recent interview, Zou shared her son’s academic records, including his birth certificate and transcripts.
“When I see him succeed, I think of how he used to be bullied and discriminated against because of his disability. But the long night has passed,” she said emotionally.
Many Chinese social media users were deeply moved by Zou’s unconditional love.
“She’s an amazing mother, giving her son full support and love,” one user wrote.
Another commented, “The mother and grandmother stayed—while the father chose to run. Women truly are the backbone of a family.”
“She’s a wise mother, teaching her son dignity, skills, and confidence,” someone else added.