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Yating Yang

A paralysed Chinese man who can move only one finger and one toe has successfully developed a smart farm control system and founded a start-up.
The determination of Li Xia, who is reliant on a ventilator, has deeply moved countless people across China.
Li, 36, from Chongqing in southwestern China, was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at the age of five. He was forced to drop out of school in the fifth grade.
Since then, studying kept him going.

He was most fascinated by physics and computer science and at the age of 25, he began learning programming via online forums.
“My first exposure to computers came from a textbook my younger sister brought home. Every single concept in that book intrigued me,” said Li.
“I read it over and over again. I would eagerly look forward to the start of each school year just to see what new computer book she would bring home,” he added.
As he grew older, his condition worsened. First, he lost the ability to walk, then he became unable to care for himself. Eventually, even eating and breathing became a struggle.

In recent years, he has only been able to move one finger and one toe.
In 2020, Li fell into a coma. Doctors performed a tracheotomy and told his family that he probably did not have much time left.
In early 2021, Li Xia came across the concept of soilless cultivation, which sparked a bold idea: to combine the Internet of Things (IoT) technology with modern agriculture and turn his knowledge into practice.
Using only one finger and one toe while on a ventilator, Li operated a virtual keyboard to develop a complete smart control system for the entire farm.

In 2017, after Li Xia’s parents divorced, the responsibility for caring for him fell entirely on his mother, Wu Dimei.
For all tasks that required hands-on work, Wu followed her son’s instructions.
Gradually, Wu, who once did not even know what a circuit was, became a “super technician”.
She learned to solder control boards, set up network wiring, connect circuits and maintain farming equipment.
One of their most impressive recent achievements was when, under Li’s guidance, Wu assembled a remote-controlled driverless vehicle by hand to collect deliveries.
“My mum is now capable of doing everything,” said Li.
“Even though she does not understand the theory, she knows exactly how to connect the wires and install everything.”
Today, Li’s farm runs smoothly and has begun turning a profit.

He plans to experiment with new cultivation technology, growing crops like cherry tomatoes to further diversify the farm’s offerings.
His story, reported by state media CCTV, has moved countless people online and attracted an outpouring of support.
One person said: “From having just one finger and one toe to becoming a successful entrepreneur, he has proven through his actions that life holds limitless possibilities. Keep going, you are amazing.”
Another said: “This is perhaps the best interpretation of the saying, ‘A mother becomes strong for her child’. The mother assembled the car by hand; the son pressed on with determination in his start-up journey. I am truly moved to tears.”


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China paralysed man, who can only move a finger and a toe, creates smart farm system, start-up

A paralysed young man in China who can only move a finger and a toe, dropped out of primary school but taught himself electronic circuits by reading books. Photo: SCMP composite/CCTV

Li Xia lies in his hospital bed. He relies on a ventilator to keep him alive. Photo: CCTV

The 36-year-old Li, above, was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at the age of five. Photo: CCTV

Li’s mother Wu Dimei, above, has been by his side throughout his struggles and is now an integral part of his business plans. Photo: CCTV

Members of Li’s family visit him in hospital. People online say his story is proof that life has “limitless possibilities”. Photo: CCTV

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Man who survives on a ventilator teaches his mother to become a ‘super technician’, plans future experiments using state-of-the-art technology


Man who survives on a ventilator teaches his mother to become a ‘super technician’, plans future experiments using state-of-the-art technology.


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China paralysed man, who can only move a finger and a toe, creates smart farm system, start-up

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Man who survives on a ventilator teaches his mother to become a ‘super technician’, plans future experiments using state-of-the-art technology

Man who survives on a ventilator teaches his mother to become a ‘super technician’, plans future experiments using state-of-the-art technology