南山西丽小学学生照顾“渐冻症”同学四年

As an old saying goes, “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” Wei Hanyu, a fifth grader from Xili Elementary School in Nanshan District, is such a friend to his desk mate Xiaorui, who suffers from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Due to the disease, Xiaorui uses a wheelchair, which causes great inconvenience to his daily life at school. However, every time Xiaorui is in trouble, Wei is there to help him, and his assistance makes his friend’s life much easier.

Four years ago when they were first graders, Xiaorui walked with a limp, and the chubby Wei started to act as Xiaorui’s “walking stick,” supporting him as he stood up and walked. “I am stronger compared to most of my classmates so only I can hold him up,” Wei said.

At that time the school also offered whatever it could to make Xiaorui’s school life more convenient. For example, the classes Xiaorui took were always on the first floor, so handrails were installed on the hallway walls and the restrooms were installed with handicap toilets.

Despite all these efforts, Xiaorui had to start using a wheelchair in the second semester of grade one, and Wei remained at Xiaorui’s side either supporting him downstairs or moving him from the toilet to the wheelchair and then to the desk in the classroom.

Now Wei is helping Xiaorui do more things, including playing games with him, handing in homework for him and navigating his wheelchair. On serveral occasions, Wei’s toenails were trampled by the wheelchair and bled and his mother was worried, while Wei replied, “I don’t want to see Xiaorui in trouble.”

Apart from Xiaorui, Wei is also helpful to other students and does his bit for the class.

Wei not only has a heart of gold; he is also hard-working. He won the titles “Little Star in English,” “Little Star in Math” and “Excellent Young Pioneers” titles for his academic performance. Last year he won the bronze medal in the World Mathematical Olympiad (China) final.

(Yang Mei)