Two Boys with Cerebral Palsy and Their Life Sustaining Brotherly Love for Each Other

Lin Xiaolong and Zhou Zhili had a tough start in life. They were both born with Cerebral Palsy and both ended up at Xining Children’s Home. Now aged 21 and 26 respectively, they are too old legally to stay at the Home and live in Xining Social Welfare Institute’s Bridge Home. But to me, every time I visit them and look at their faces, I still see the little faces when they were young, I see their zest for life, their beaming smiles, sparkling eyes and I see their immense brotherly love for one another.

During their formative years at Xining Children’s Home our Social Workers and Therapists would do everything possible to foster a social connection between Xiaolong and Zhili. They would do therapy together, special education and hang out together after sessions.

But the moment Xiaolong transitioned to living at The Bridge Home it became clear that he was having difficulty adjusting. Tragically he had a bad experience of being locally adopted but was abandoned due to the severity of his disability. He couldn't muster up the strength to perform his rehabilitation exercises like he used to. He refused to speak to anyone; and he often just stared into space, preferring to eat alone in a corner. He even rejected our social workers.

The change came the moment Zhou Zhili approached Xiaolong at The Bridge Home. Suddenly they were working out together in therapy and hanging out together just like old times. The friendship was reignited and once again there was purpose, support, meaning and an emotional bond.

Life is filled with many hardships and challenges for all of us but more so for abandoned disabled children like Xiaolong. But whenever I get to spend time with Xiaolong and so many of our children in our Children’s Homes, I’m reminded that there was also a time when things were arguably much, much worse and yet by God’s Grace here we are: surrounded by friends and love and so much more.

Please join me in praying for these lovely boys and all of our children in the Children’s Homes. Please also consider supporting our work financially by clicking here.

Thank you!
Siew Mei

Xiaolong is receiving training
enthusiastically