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‘Glass girl’ shatters obstacles of life
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MINHANG resident Lu Haiying is affectionately called the “the glass girl” by people close to her. She suffers from Lobstein’s syndrome, a congenital disease that makes her bones brittle. A violent sneeze can cause a small fracture.
After living in Minhang for 10 years, where the local neighborhood rallied around to lend Lu and her family assistance, the 24-year-old started work this month in a field close to her heart.
Her job is to contact disabled people in Jiangchuan Town and report on their needs and living conditions.
“There were other work options available,” she said, “but I still want to stay in Jiangchuan and give something back to the community that has helped me so much.”
Lu and her parents moved to Minhang in 2000, squeezing into a tiny apartment of only 14 square meters. Poverty-stricken, the family relied on government subsidies to survive.
In 2001, the Qilun No. 3 Neighborhood, where Lu lived, formed a volunteer group to give the girl and her family help.
Lu Jinsun, a retired teacher who is now 95, began giving Lu home schooling every Tuesday and Friday. The private classes continued for several years until his health began to fail. In 2005, Wenlai High School, where Lu Jinsun had taught, continued the private schooling.
Meanwhile, Lu Haiying’s condition improved. In 2008, she was able to walk for the first time, with support apparatus.
In 2010, the girl was enrolled at Shanghai Jianqiao College.
“I still remember the day when the whole neighborhood volunteer group escorted her to college,” said Guo Ruifang, former secretary-general of the neighborhood committee. “For a decade, the neighborhood had never given up on her.”
The college, which is in Pudong New Area, extended special arrangements to her. They installed handrails and other handicap-access features in a special dormitory area. Lu’s mother was hired as a campus cleaner so she could be near her daughter and earn some money for the family.
Lu spent most of her time in a wheelchair. Her mother wheeled her between dorm and classrooms. Lu spent four years at the college.
Today she looks upon her life as a new opportunity. She is grateful beyond words for all the help she has received.
“Whenever I was in a low mood and just wanted to give up, I thought of all the people who helped me and I just couldn’t let them down,” Lu said. “Now it’s my turn to pass on hope and encouragement to others in need.”
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