The Year of YanMeng
On Chinese New Year’s Eve, Ren CuiHua, a foster mother in Half the Sky’s Family Village in Nanjing, sat around the dinner table with her family like so many other moms all across China. But why wasn’t the seated family enjoying the fancy cuisine? What were they waiting for? All eyes were turned toward the doorway where CuiHua’s daughter stood and then started to make her way to the table. As little YanMeng took step after painstaking step toward her family, everyone at the table cheered her on. And when l YanMeng arrived at her seat and sat down, they each raised two fingers in a victory sign and cheered again.
Everyone at the table knew that YanMeng’s walk from the doorway to the table was the culmination of a journey that started in 2006 when she first joined her family. By scanning her bones, doctors had determined that YanMeng, who has cerebral palsy, was 2.5 years old, and they had also determined that her prognosis looked bleak. She had a dull expression on her sad face and she couldn’t speak and she was in poor physical condition. Her left knee joint was overextended and her left fist was clenched; she could only lie on her back and couldn’t sit up.
When CuiHua held YanMeng in her arms for the first time she tenderly whispered in her ear: “My little girl. We are your mom and dad. And here is our home. See, you also have sisters. From now on, we will live together as a family. We will love you and protect you. You will recover soon, and live a happy life!” 
From then on, every day, CuiHua would put YanMeng on the floor cushion, stroke her body gently, massage her hands and exercise her limbs. When YanMeng’s Achilles tendon was stretched, she would cry out because of the pain. Her mom would embrace YanMeng gently and speak to her softly, “My dear girl, mom’s heart also ached when you were feeling pain. But we have to hang in there; it is for your own good. We have to be strong, my little one!” While her mom helped YanMeng with rehab training, her dad would prepare nutritious and delicious food to help ensure that she got strong.
YanMeng got better day by day. After a month and a half, she could sit on her small chair and be fed by her mom. As she received more love from her family, YanMeng’s emotions also changed dramatically; her face started to glow with confidence. She could recognize all the members of her family and understand them clearly. She loved to play hide-and-seek with her sisters while her dad held her. During the game, you could always hear her happy laugh.
After just three months, YanMeng could not only sit up, but also stand by holding on to surrounding objects. Then her mom began to work on helping her learn to grasp small objects. CuiHua put broad beans, peanuts and red beans into a small bowl and asked YanMeng to pick them up one by one and put them into another small bowl. At first, YanMeng could only grasp a handful randomly with her uncoordinated fingers. After a month, YanMeng could lift one peanut from a bowl with her thumb and forefinger and put it into another bowl. Every time she succeeded in lifting and moving a peanut or a bean, she would give herself a big thumbs-up and eagerly wait for a sweet treat from her mom as a reward.
In May 2007, YanMeng entered Half the Sky’s Infant Nurture Program, which helped her to make more progress. She began to receive rehabilitation treatment from doctors, which brought great improvement in her physical development. In June of 2007, YanMeng started to eat on her own using a spoon. By the third quarter of 2007, she could stand by herself for 15 seconds! She also made progress in language and started saying “Dad” and “Mom.” At the end of 2007, on December 8th, after so much loving care, YanMeng finally managed to take the first step in her life! One, two, three…she not only walked towards her dear parents, but also walked towards her bright future!
On Chinese New Year Eve of 2008, as the sound of firecrackers resounded across the sky and YanMeng succeeded in walking by herself to the family feast, her whole family cheered loudly with one voice, “YanMeng has recovered!”, “YanMeng is a winner!” “Yeah!”…At the table, YanMeng’s mom raised her cup, and said soulfully: “Our little YanMeng succeeded step by step in sitting up, standing up and walking by herself. She came through with flying colors! This year was the Year of YanMeng! Cheers for her recovery!” After best wishes from every member of her family, YanMeng raised her cup too, and deeply soaked in the atmosphere of her loving family.