Li Yujie tutors kids at the community center. [Hubei Daily]

Li Yujie, 26, a woman who survived a serious disease and paralysis in her childhood, has recently flourished as a writer, and now travels the country giving back to others as an inspiring public speaker.

Li was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at 7, and developed difficulties walking. Her distorted fingers also made it hard for her to write. Nevertheless, she never arrived late for school. "She even won first place in her grade in almost every subject," recalled the president of her junior high school.

However, Li's physical condition saw few improvements. She became paralyzed at 14 and was forced to quit school due to painful treatments.

Lonely days confined in a wheelchair brought her to tears; she even thought about killing herself.

Fortunately, she took up reading, and began to find new motivation.

"A man can be destroyed but not defeated," the seafaring Old Man in Hemingway's novel seemed to whisper to her.

"Without legs that can move freely, I still have hands, a brain that refuses to stop thinking, and a heart that never gives up," she told herself.

Li spent much of her time reading, and, a year after she left school, began writing and contributing her own works for publication. An article on her life experiences was featured in a magazine for middle schoolers, and she later received many letters from its readers.

Li felt greatly motivated and fell in love with writing. She worked even harder and won first prizes in national competitions for youth writers for three consecutive years.

At the same time, she became a level-3 psychological consultant through self-teaching and earned a diploma from a vocational college.

With achievements seemingly impossible before, Li resolved to "pay back society with her own force."

Now, she works as a part-time psychological consultant at two schools in her native city of Yidu, central China's Hubei Province. She also travels around to give speeches on her life, inspiring many youngsters to move ahead.

Li set up a special hotline, listening and giving advice to people in need, and volunteers to tutor children at a community center.

The young woman published her autobiography last year, thanks to the help of friends, the government and some supportive companies.

The book of 250,000 words is titled "Dreams Are Above 110 Centimeters," her height in the wheelchair.

"The best way to make up for my disability is to shake off all confinement and chase after dreams," she said.

(Source: China Youth Daily/Translated and edited by Women of China)

By Zhu Juanjuan, Lei YuEditor: Eileen Cheng