BEIJING: A mother in central China who saw her comatose daughter come to life after taking her square dancing every day for 10 years has been hailed as a miracle worker.
Thanks to her care and the daily dance rehabilitation, her daughter regained consciousness and can now walk, speak and care for herself.
Xiao Xuefei, 59, from Hunan province, has been a full-time carer for her daughter, Yang Fang, while her husband juggles work and household duties.
A decade ago, Yang fell critically ill while working in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, southern China, and slipped into a coma.
Doctors told Xiao that Yang’s chances of waking up were slim and suggested discontinuing treatment.
Despite this, Xiao insisted on moving her daughter, who still showed vital signs, to a regular ward for continued care.
Months later, Yang’s body regained some movement, but she remained unconscious and unable to speak.
Xiao took her daughter home and began rehabilitation on her own.
Doctors had suggested that music, dance and even travel could help stimulate Yang’s dormant nerves.
Every morning, Xiao pushed Yang’s wheelchair to a nearby park, swaying to the rhythm of square dance music while holding her daughter’s hand.
In China, many middle-aged women are passionate about dancing in parks.
The simple low-cost social activity is believed to boost vitality and combat loneliness.
Known as “square dance aunties”, they bring radios to play music and often wear matching outfits. Occasionally, they face complaints for making noise or taking up public spaces.
Xiao’s story soon spread among the local dance aunties, and she was met with an outpouring of support. Some of the dancers helped Yang with movement exercises and taught Xiao new dance steps.
In the second year of dancing, Yang was able to speak. The first sentence she said to her mother was: “You are a good person.”
Xiao was overwhelmed with emotion at her daughter’s awakening and immediately took her to the hospital. Doctors observed significant changes in Yang’s brain activity and called it “a miracle”.
For the past 10 years, Xiao has faithfully continued her daily square dance routine with her daughter. Slowly, Yang regained the ability to walk and speak.
Now, Yang can take care of herself and communicate simply, though her cognitive abilities are still a work in progress and she only recognises her parents.
In a November interview, Xiao said that she had formed a square dance team with 150 members.
She said that both she and her daughter had fallen in love with square dancing and that they still danced every day.
“As long as my daughter is happy, all the hardship and exhaustion were worth it,” Xiao added.
One online observer said: “Xiao’s years of perseverance are truly inspiring. Motherly love creates miracles.”
“Dance and music provide a healing power that goes beyond words,” said another. - South China Morning Post/ANN
