Doctor brings hope and help to autistic children

[Photo/China Daily]

Wang has established a series of treatments combining Western treatment methods (such as learning to connect internal feelings with external expression) with traditional Chinese medicine (such as regulating the children's gastrointestinal function).

In 2013, more than 80 autistic children sought treatment at the rehabilitation center, with many showing progress like Tian Tian.

Many of the parents traveled from all over the country upon learning about Wang's reputation.

In addition to treatment, she introduced them to medical insurance to reduce the cost of their long term treatment. On average, the monthly cost is about 2,000 yuan ($322), a much lower figure than fees in private institutions (which usually exceed 10,000 yuan).

"When I see kids getting better, I feel so proud as a doctor," Wang says, "but at the same time, I can't help feeling envious for these parents because my son suffers from severe autism and I am helpless."

Her son, 10, was diagnosed with autism when he was 3 years old, but Wang, though already a physician, did not realize the seriousness of autism and sent him to a regular kindergarten for a year. As a result, her son missed the window period for intervention.

"I can never forgive myself for wasting one critical year to treat him," she says. After she realized her son's condition, she took a leave from work to bring her son to Beijing and elsewhere to seek treatment as there was no center in Shijiazhuang back in 2007.

But the results were not as good as she expected. So she studied child autism herself, burning the midnight oil to learn about Western treatment methods.

When the hospital she worked for underwent reform, she took the chance to set up a rehabilitation center for autistic children.

"I understand the parents' sacrifices for their kids and their concerns about the current treatment, so I always try my best to help them as well as my son," she says.

"All I want is to see my son and other autistic kids living like other kids," she adds.