Born Without Limbs, She Raised Three Children Alone... The Story of an 81-Year-Old Chinese Woman Moves Many

Received Her First Name After Marriage at 27

Protected Her Family Amid Disability and Poverty

Endured a Difficult Life as the "Strongest Mother"

An 81-year-old woman named Wang Wisi from Baiyin, Gansu Province in northern China, has deeply moved the local community with her story of raising three children alone despite being born without arms and legs.

On April 18, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that Wang Wisi's life story has recently spread through Chinese social networking services (SNS), drawing significant attention.

An 81-year-old woman named Wang Wixi from Baiyin, Gansu Province in northern China, has deeply moved the local society with her story of raising three children alone despite being born without arms and legs. SCMP

According to the report, Wang Wisi was born with a congenital disability, having neither arms nor legs. She lived during a time when social awareness of disabilities was lacking and did not have a name until her late twenties. Her youngest son, Zhang Lihu, aged 38, said, "My mother was born without hands or legs and lived for more than 20 years without even having a name. When she married my father at 27 and filed the marriage registration, the official in charge gave her the name 'Wang Wisi,' and from then on, everyone called her that."

After getting married, Wang Wisi gave birth to three children—one daughter and two sons. At the time, the family's main source of livelihood was agriculture, and her husband often had to leave home for work. As a result, most of the childcare and housework fell to Wang Wisi. Despite her physical challenges, she adapted her daily life to take care of her family. When cooking, she would move herself onto a chair to stabilize her body, knead dough, and cut vegetables. During meals, she would hold chopsticks between her elbows to eat. If her children's clothes were torn, she would hold a needle in her mouth and sew them by herself.

In an interview with local media Jimu News, Wang Wisi recalled, "At that time, there was no one else to look after my children except me. Life was truly difficult, but I am satisfied with the fact that at least my family never went hungry." Now, all three of Wang Wisi's children are grown and have families of their own. Her husband passed away more than a decade ago, and Wang Wisi currently lives with her youngest son's family. Although she suffers from high blood pressure, her overall health is reported to be relatively stable.

Her youngest son, Zhang Lihu, runs a social media account called "Great Mother," where he shares updates about his mother's daily life. The account currently has over 440,000 followers. Zhang Lihu stated, "Being able to stay by my mother's side is the greatest happiness in my life. Wherever my mother is, that is our home."

As Wang Wisi's story became known, local internet users expressed deep emotions. Online, many commented, "Fate gave her a hellish start, but she has lived like a warrior," "A great mother who overcame unimaginable pain," and "Her children's filial piety is also a great blessing."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.