Paralyzed gymnast on track of amazing recovery

By Yu Nan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2007-06-28 13:59

China's paralyzed gymnast Wang Yan has improved beyond doctors' expectations since she underwent fatal surgery in Shanghai, said Wu Xiqin, chief coach with the Zhejiang Provincial gymnastics team.

"On behalf of Wang Yan's family and myself, we want to thank everyone for their concern", Wu said on the phone. "The critical period for the 15-year-old is over, and that she has improved amazingly has even surprised the diagnosis group only after having surgery seven days ago."

Paralyzed gymnast on track of amazing recovery

Wang Yan, a 15-year-old Chinese gymnast felt into coma after she broke her neck in
an accidental falldown from uneven bars at the national championship held in Shanghai, June 10,2007.[sina.com]

Wang fell into a coma at the national gymnastics championships in Shanghai June 10 after landing head-first on the mat in her dismount from the uneven bars with her second and third vertebrae fractured.

Sources after the accident said that the gymnast would likely be paralyzed for life, but after surgery and treatment, her condition improved considerably.

The team of doctors thoroughly examined Wang's impaired mobility yesterday. But, whether she could transfer out of the intensive care unit (ICU) will depend on her test results, Wu added.

Seven days since the major surgery, the injured teenager is able to eat spoonfuls of food, indicating she is getting stronger physically.

By having her mother by her side and visible recovery, the 15-year-old quickly throws off the gloomy feelings.

According to her doctors, the gymnast is able to relieve herself on her own, and as her muscular sense is gradually returning, she can swing her left arm that at first she could not move ideally, lift her legs up and down and has regained some hand mobility.

So far, she hasn't had any side effects since the surgery succeeded, which satisfies the diagnosis group. To their knowledge, it is a good sign. Yesterday's test of her limb functions showed she is now out of danger, and the locomotor system is steadily recovering, according Xu Jiangguang, doctor of Wang Yan with Shanghai No.6 Hospital.

"We will focus on, during the next stage, helping the gymnast regain the damaged neurological functions," Xu said.

"I am optimistic Wang can stand up some day," her coach said, full of confidence. "But it seems too early to say that she has overcome the injury as she needs to live at the special care ward for at least two months."

But whether Wang will move out of the ICU would rely on an examination report which is due out this week.