Family with young patient diagnosed with scoliosis shakes off poverty in Anhui
Xinhua
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Cai Qiyan spends her leisure time on top of a mountain in Gaowan Village of Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 20, 2020. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 2016, Qiyan's famil

Cai Qiyan attends a P.E. class at Sanhe Experimental School in Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 19, 2020. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 2016, Qiyan's family was registe

Cai Qiyan helps her father remove weeds from the family tea plantation in Gaowan Village of Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 20, 2020. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 201

Cai Qiyan displays a photo of her after her second scoliosis surgery in Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 19, 2020. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 2016, Qiyan's family wa

Cai Qiyan helps her mother prepare the family dinner in Gaowan Village of Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 19, 2020. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 2016, Qiyan's family

Cai Qiyan does school work at home in Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 19, 2020. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 2016, Qiyan's family was registered by the government as

Cai Qiyan (L) shares ideas with a classmate at Sanhe Experimental School in Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 19, 2020. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 2016, Qiyan's famil

Cai Qiyan does school work at home in Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 19, 2020. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 2016, Qiyan's family was registered by the government as

Cai Qiyan and classmates work on blackboard art at Sanhe Experimental School in Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 19, 2020. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 2016, Qiyan's f

Cai Qiyan and her parents have dinner together in Gaowan Village of Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 19, 2020. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 2016, Qiyan's family was re

Cai Qiyan (1st R) attends a P.E. class at Sanhe Experimental School in Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 19, 2020. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 2016, Qiyan's family was

Cai Qiyan tends a succulent plant at home in Gaowan Village of Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 20, 2020. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 2016, Qiyan's family was registe

Cai Qiyan (C) spends her noon break studying at Sanhe Experimental School in Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 19, 2020. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 2016, Qiyan's fami

Cai Qiyan and her parents have dinner together in Gaowan Village of Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 19, 2020. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 2016, Qiyan's family was re

Cai Qiyan is pictured on her way home from school in Gaowan Village of Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 19, 2020. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 2016, Qiyan's family was

Cai Qiyan helps her mother pick vegetables in Gaowan Village of Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 20, 2020. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 2016, Qiyan's family was regist

Cai Qiyan is pictured on her way home from school in Gaowan Village of Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 19, 2020. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 2016, Qiyan's family was

Cai Qiyan spends her leisure time on top of a mountain in Gaowan Village of Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 20, 2020. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 2016, Qiyan's famil

Aerial photo taken on June 20, 2020 shows a resettlement site where Cai Qiyan and her parents live in Gaowan Village of Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire po

Cai Qiyan prepares to leave Sanhe Experimental School for a weekend at home in Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 19, 2020. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 2016, Qiyan's fa

Cai Qiyan has lunch at Sanhe Experimental School in Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 19, 2020. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 2016, Qiyan's family was registered by the

Cai Qiyan takes a math test at Sanhe Experimental School in Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 19, 2020. Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 2016, Qiyan's family was registered