This Chinese mother single-handedly raised her disabled son; he is a Harvard graduate now

Ding's father disowned him before he was born as he was worried about the financial part of raising a child with disability

By: Anumeha Saxena |
May 18, 2017 5:12 pm

A woman in China’s Hubei province single-handedly raised her son, suffering from cerebral palsy and encouraged him to study in the prestigious Harvard University. Her son, Dingding, who is 29-year-old and a Harvard graduate today, credits his success to his mother. According to a Facebook post by a Chinese website, Dingding said, “I never imagined applying to Harvard – it was my mother who encouraged me.” Twenty-nine years ago due to a medical accident Zou Hangyon was advised to abort her foetus by doctors, according to a Facebook post by a Chinese website. They told her that the child would either grow up to be disabled or with low intelligence, but Zou refused to listen. Zou had made up her mind about bringing her child in the world.

Dingding was born with cerebral palsy, a congenital disorder of movement or muscle posture.

Surprisingly, Ding’s father disowned him before he was born as he was worried about the financial part of raising a child with disability. Zou divorced him and to support her family did odd jobs. She made sure that Ding never feels left out or inferior in any way and hence, helped him improve his learning abilities.

According to the post, ‘ Under Zou’s meticulous guidance, Dingding graduated from Peking University in 2011, and was admitted to Harvard Law School in March 2016… In Dingding’s eyes, Zou is his spiritual mentor. However, Zou says she just did what any mother would do to help her beloved child thrive.”