Miracle survivor receives 'light' disability grade

The young girl who survived 2011's deadly high-speed train crash will only suffer from a lesser degree of disability than expected, according to a medical appraisal of her injuries.

Four-year-old Xiang Weiyi, nicknamed Yiyi, was rescued from the train accident that killed her parents on July 23, 2011, 20 hours after two bullet trains crashed near Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, claiming 40 lives. The girl's left leg was badly injured.

Yiyi has been receiving treatment and rehabilitation in Shanghai for several months. Her uncle Xiang Yuyu provides updates on her progress on Sina Weibo, a micro-blogging platform.

In his most recent post on Thursday, he wrote: "Yiyi's disability appraisal result has come out. It is divided into two parts: The left leg was identified as being a grade 9 disability while the skin on her leg was grade 10".

Xiang expressed puzzlement at the result, writing: "At least two thirds of the muscle of her left leg was cut off, which will have a great impact on her future life. I trusted the appraisal body, but the result showed such a low level of disability. I cannot understand it."

The assessment is based on the effect of a person's disability will have on their ability to work and participate in daily life.

According to the assessment for body impairment of people injured in traffic accidents, released by General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine in 2002, people who are identified as having a grade 9 disability are restricted in their ability to carry out most daily activities, their work and study ability is decreased and part of their social ability is restricted.

People, classified as grade 10 - the lightest grade, are only slightly restricted in their ability to carry out daily activities. Their ability to work and study and their social ability is only slightly restricted.

Qianjiang Evening News quoted a disability appraisal professional as saying: "If the child is identified as grade 9 disability, according to the assessment standard, it means she lost between 25 to 50 percent leg function".

China Daily was unable to contact Xiang Yuyu for comment.

Xiang said he had approved the results after reading the detailed appraisal.

"The lower the grade is the less impediment the child will have in the future. It is good news from a different perspective," Xiang Yuyu told Qianjiang Evening News.

Yiyi's left leg was badly injured in the accident and doctors originally believed it would have to be amputated. A few days after the accident she was transferred to Shanghai's Xinhua Hospital from the hospital in Wenzhou. She underwent intensive treatment and can now walk again.

Yiyi is being cared for by her grandmother and uncle and attends a kindergarten in Shanghai. Xiang said the girl is becoming more open and boisterous.

wanghongyi@chinadaily.com.cn