For most of his young life, a boy in rural China lived with his body bent almost entirely in half, his spine contorted to a staggering 180-degree angle that left him unable to stand or even look straight ahead. Locals called him the “folded boy,” a painful nickname for a child who had spent years staring at the ground, his body locked in a shape doctors said was almost impossible to correct. Now, after a groundbreaking surgery, he has stood tall for the first time—sparking tears, prayers, and awe around the world.
According to Reuters, the child suffered from severe scoliosis, a condition so extreme that his chest and face were pressed against his thighs. His parents told BBC that they spent years searching for treatment, carrying him to countless hospitals only to be turned away. Most doctors refused to operate, calling the risks too high. “They told us he might not survive the surgery,” his mother explained. “But we couldn’t give up.”
It was not until specialists at a leading hospital in Shanghai agreed to attempt an operation that hope returned. Surgeons interviewed by The New York Times said the complexity of his condition required a multi-stage procedure that lasted more than 10 hours. Titanium rods, screws, and grafts were used to carefully straighten his spine, millimeter by millimeter. “We were essentially rebuilding a backbone,” one doctor said. “It was one of the most delicate cases we’ve ever attempted.”
“The boy known as the ‘folded child’ has finally stood tall. Miracles do happen.”— @AsiaWatchNews
When the surgery was complete, his parents said they wept as they saw their son lying straight for the first time. According to CNN, doctors cautiously lifted him to a standing position days later. The moment, captured on video, showed him blinking in disbelief as he looked around at eye level—a view he had never experienced before. Nurses clapped softly while his mother covered her mouth, overwhelmed with emotion. “He looked at me straight in the eyes,” she said. “I thought my heart would burst.”
The story has since traveled worldwide, becoming a symbol of perseverance and medical innovation. Videos shared by @GlobalTimesNews showed neighbors lining the streets of his village to greet him as he returned home upright for the first time. Some cried openly, saying they never believed they would see him walk straight. For his father, the sight was almost too much to process. “For years, I dreamed of walking next to him, side by side. Now I can.”
Doctors have warned that recovery will be long and painful. Specialists told FT that his spine will need constant monitoring, with physical therapy likely lasting years. Still, they are optimistic that he can live a relatively normal life—something his parents once thought impossible. “He may never be an athlete,” one surgeon admitted. “But he can walk, he can breathe more easily, and he can look at the world with dignity.”
“Watching this child stand tall after years bent in half—it’s beyond medicine. It’s humanity.”— @HealthForAll
The emotional impact has been immense. Reports from The Guardian described crowds gathering outside the hospital with flowers, praying for his recovery. Strangers across China have donated money to support the family’s medical bills, raising hundreds of thousands through online campaigns. One woman told reporters she had lost her own son to scoliosis complications years earlier. “I see my child in him,” she said softly. “I had to help.”
International medical experts are calling the operation groundbreaking. Analysts interviewed by Politico said the case could shape future approaches to severe spinal deformities. Surgeons worldwide are studying the details, with some calling it a “landmark in pediatric orthopedics.” Beyond medicine, however, the story resonates because it is about resilience—a family who refused to give up even when hope seemed lost.
The boy himself has spoken shyly about his new life. Coverage in TIME quoted him saying, “I feel taller. I can breathe better.” He admitted that standing straight was painful at first, but also freeing. Teachers in his village school say he dreams of one day becoming a doctor, inspired by those who saved him. For a child once known only for his suffering, the future now feels wide open.
“He wants to be a doctor now. From patient to healer—what a journey.”— @InspireDaily
Yet beneath the celebration lies a painful truth: many children with similar conditions never receive treatment. Reports from Deutsche Welle noted that rural families often cannot afford surgeries or travel to major hospitals. Advocates are calling for expanded healthcare access, saying the boy’s survival should not be seen as a miracle, but as a standard every child deserves. “He was lucky,” one activist said. “But thousands of others remain bent and broken, waiting for help.”
For now, the boy’s story has become a beacon. In his village, neighbors still whisper about the moment they saw him walk down the dirt road upright for the first time. In cities across China, his photographs hang in clinics as reminders of what is possible. And around the world, his journey has become a symbol of hope for parents who believe medicine has given up on their children. “He was called the folded boy,” his mother said, her voice steady. “Now he is my miracle.”
