Guo Chunmei, the "Index Finger Girl" of Hebei: My world is still very wide
Guo Chunmei, who lives in the Beizhan community of the Renqiu mining area of Huabei Oilfield, was diagnosed with congenital progressive spinal muscular atrophy shortly after birth. Although she has never experienced what it feels like to walk, and has never attended a single day of school, she taught herself to draw and write poetry, started her own business, and helped others find employment, constantly searching for the sunshine in life. She said: "Although now I can only move one finger, my world is still very wide."
Self-reliance
Striving to teach herself since childhood, with a love for reciting poetry and painting
"I want to be like a Siberian butterfly, dancing in the cold wind, struggling in the bitter cold. Even if ice and snow freeze me stiff and encase me in ice, I will still awaken the next year and rediscover my youth and vitality." Because she has been ill since childhood, Guo Chunmei needs to lean against something to support her body even when sitting, so she cannot go out or attend school like other children. When she was little, her limited literacy came mainly from television. Later, when her mother Li Xiuhong was tutoring her younger cousin in pinyin, Guo Chunmei would sit beside them and "secretly" follow along, writing and reading aloud.
Guo Chunmei asked her mother to buy many pinyin-version books. As she learned more and more characters, her horizons grew broader and broader. "My niece knows so many things. I just love listening to her tell stories." Every time Chunmei returns to her hometown, her aunt by marriage specifically brings her to stay at her home for a few days. The love from her elders and siblings is not only the spiritual strength that supports Chunmei, but also cultivated her cheerful and strong personality.
"I don't necessarily have to write extremely beautiful verses, but since I want to write, at least they should look somewhat presentable." Guo Chunmei loves history books and classical poetry most. After reading a great deal, she began trying to record her feelings and moods in the form of poetry. After reading the story of Cai Wenji, Guo Chunmei wrote: "The seven-stringed qin hums softly, the se listens to the Hu jia melody. The Hu child weeps bitterly, still feeling Cai Wenji's tears." After finishing "Dream of the Red Chamber," she wrote: "Originally a fairy grass of the spirit realm, repaying the grace of sweet dew with tears. One can only sigh that fate's cause and effect is predetermined, ending life with resentment on the banks of the Spirit River," expressing her mourning and regret for Lin Daiyu.
In 2003, after repeated requests from Guo Chunmei, her mother finally bought her a second-hand computer. Guo Chunmei learned to type, go online, and make animations... Online, she studied the essentials of classical-style poetry composition, asked netizens for guidance on writing techniques, and the classical-style poems she wrote began to take proper shape.
The kitten at home, the little birds in the trees, the flowers in front of the door, the ladies in books... Chunmei also taught herself to paint without any instruction, and was called a "little talented girl" by her friends.
Self-support
With only the strength to click, sharing the responsibility of supporting the family
The main manifestation of progressive spinal muscular atrophy is continuous muscle wasting, resulting in varying degrees of muscle weakness and movement disorder. As she grew older, Guo Chunmei's condition kept worsening. Apart from her brain remaining active and sharp, the only limb strength she could control was the tiny bit of force in her right index finger to click the mouse. But with her wisdom, she relied on this tiny bit of strength to earn income and help support her family's livelihood.
Three years ago, Guo Chunmei applied to become an online store customer service representative, thinking she would give it a try. After a series of business training sessions, Guo Chunmei officially started work. Not only did she need to maintain online store operations, but customer service for a clothing store also required understanding clothing fashion trends and recommending and introducing suitable clothing to buyers. However, Guo Chunmei had never visited a shopping mall in her entire life, and had never paid attention to clothing-related information before. After a month, her performance was the worst among the customer service staff.
After the online store owner learned of her situation, he helped her find many fashion clothing e-magazines and fashion videos. At the same time, Guo Chunmei herself signed up for several online training courses and began learning from the most basic knowledge. From the beginner class to the supervisor class, Guo Chunmei's efforts and progress won praise from the training teachers, who often used her as an example to encourage other trainees. Two years ago, Guo Chunmei opened an online store of her own selling women's bags, earning nearly two thousand yuan a month.
When she received her first month's salary, Guo Chunmei bought her mother a pair of soft-soled leather shoes and her uncle a brand-name top. "I really never expected that in this lifetime I could spend money earned by my daughter," Guo Chunmei's mother said with emotion, wiping away tears.
Helping others
Helping more disabled friends face life with confidence
Due to her physical condition, Guo Chunmei does not spend much time outdoors or enjoying sunlight, but her heart has always been full of sunshine. "Although online store customer service doesn't earn much, for disabled people, it is also a way to prove their value." After successfully accumulating some online store customer service experience and connections, Guo Chunmei, in the role of supervisor customer service, recommended disabled people who were willing to work to the customer service company where she worked, to take up positions and learn, helping them achieve self-reliance.
In over two years, Guo Chunmei has successfully introduced 8 disabled friends to become online store customer service representatives. Xiao He, who lives in Guangdong, is also a patient who has been bedridden for years. After receiving his salary, he specially bought a water cup and mailed it to Guo Chunmei as a gift. Juanzi, who has dwarfism, has received enthusiastic help from Chunmei in both work and life, and the two have now become best friends who talk about everything.
"In the past, I always received help from others. My computer was bought for me with money pooled together by several of my mother's friends, and my wheelchair was funded by the Renqiu City Disabled Persons' Federation. These acts of help made me feel warmth and happiness; now I can also help others, and that feels so good." Guo Chunmei feels that she is becoming more and more "useful."
In her 30 years of life, Guo Chunmei has experienced the inconveniences brought by physical disability and has also witnessed the warmth and coldness of the world, but she has always told herself to live strongly and to be tolerant and kind to everyone she meets. Guo Chunmei once calmly talked with her mother, hoping that when she leaves this world, her mother could donate the usable organs from her body: "Donate my eyes to someone who cannot see, and he can carry me to see the world. Then I, your daughter, can 'walk' even farther!" Shi Ziqiang, Shi Jinghua