Newsweek丨Take a trip with ALS mother Zhao Tianci: I want to heal you with mountains and seas
Zhao Tianci, 29 years old this year, chose to resign in June and took his mother to visit Xinjiang.
Zhao Tianci's mother's current physical condition is getting worse day by day. He wants to take her out for a walk while she can still go out.
Nine years ago, 45-year-old Liu Wenyan was diagnosed with ALS.
Before that, she enjoyed traveling, doing yoga, and drinking tea.
Today, the disease has eroded her body little by little, her limbs and tongue have no strength, and she can only speak slowly and make a hoarse, elongated voice.
For this self-driving tour, my son planned for a long time and quit his four-year job.
Along the way, my mother saw Dushanzi Grand Canyon, Sailimu Lake, Kanas, and sat on the grassland to drink tea and explore the mine.
Zhao Tianci:
When I first got sick, I often took her to see a doctor. At that time, she was in a very bad mood. After we visited a scenic spot in that city, she was very happy.
I found that it might be more useful than I persuade her a hundred words. Since then, we have also traveled while seeing a doctor, and we have found a balance.
When she is in a good mood, the development of the disease will become a little slower.
In fact, I want to go to Xinjiang. I wanted to take her there during the November holiday last year. At that time, because of the epidemic, this matter was put on hold. In fact, her physique is very poor now, so every time we go out, we will check various places. Some anti-epidemic policies, as well as some situations, give her the best protection when traveling.
Traveling west can be an open-hearted, but also full of challenges.
In order to fix the mother's head that could not be supported independently, Zhao Tianci remodeled the co-pilot's seat in advance.
Whenever it travels more than 100 kilometers, it will drive to the nearest service area to rest.
Worrying about poor care during the trip, Zhao Tianci's friend Shi Xingguo and his aunt who took care of his mother for a long time also participated.
Zhao Tianci's friend Shi Xingguo:
I am also very fortunate to be able to participate in this journey and see the filial piety bestowed by God and the strength of my mother.
One point that I admire very much is that there may be many hardships in life or things that you cannot master, but everyone will relax and face them in a more relaxed state, which makes us feel that this is a worthwhile trip.
Along the way, the mountains, rivers, and deserts changed one after another, and the scenery outside the car window became more and more vast.
The corners of her mouth will always rise slightly when her mother sees it in her eyes.
Although the journey was tiring, in Zhao Tianci's eyes, the state of his mother had changed.
Zhao Tianci:
In fact, during this process, my mother cried many times, even when she was a little tired and her whole body hurt.
She will cry when she is moved, and she will cry when she is happy. Because of ALS, her emotions may be more difficult to control, and she may be easily agitated and sad all of a sudden. These are also her symptoms.
But in this process, how we seek happiness, I think is the most important.
The trip went from June to July, and during the day, he proceeded as planned. At night, Zhao Tianci would cut the good memories taken by his friends into short videos and post them on his social platform.
Reviewing these memories the next morning became the most ritualistic thing when my mother woke up.
At the end of 31 days, the self-driving trip of 15,000 kilometers back and forth.
Until this week, as usual, Dad was busy with breakfast in the kitchen, and Zhao Tianci washed and dressed his mother.
A breakfast takes more than an hour. As my mother chews and swallows, there is a babbling sound in her mouth, which only Tianci can understand.
Zhao Tianci:
It’s been more than half a month since I came back, and I haven’t decided what to do, because I’ve been looking for this balance, but I already have a small direction, maybe it’s self-media.
Now at home, if she is okay, I will take her on a live broadcast, because my mother will feel a lot of joy during the live broadcast.
During this time, many family members of patients with the same symptoms appeared in Zhao Tianci's live broadcast room.
When faced with the questions and puzzles they raised, Tianci will patiently provide encouragement and support with the experience of past people, or comfort or answers.
In addition to the live broadcast time, Tianci will not only take her mother to shop, watch movies, and accompany her to do things she likes, but also set up an ICU in the family for her mother.
For the two of them, this trip to Xinjiang is like another starting point of life: I don't know when life will end, but before that, let my mother share the sunshine in the life she longs for like ordinary people.
Zhao Tianci:
In the later stage, the mother's breathing function will be affected, and she may lose the ability to speak in the near future.
Get her an eye tracker at home. With this eye tracker, she can type with her eyes, so that we can continue to communicate.
I think the biggest feeling right now is a race against time. I need to save some funds before the new drug comes out.
The other part is the time when my mother's body is deteriorating. I want to take her out for a walk as much as possible during the time when her body is deteriorating.
Bai Yansong:
There is no cure for ALS so far, but there are different ways to deal with this disease. Zhao Tianci took his mother's long journey. The focus is not only on filial piety, but also on the pursuit of happiness and happiness The decision, because some things can not wait, I wish them a happier next journey, happy!
And let more people feel something.