China boy, 12, inspires millions after defying muscle-wasting disease prognosis of living past 3

South China Morning Post

15th July 2026

China boy, 12, inspires millions after defying muscle-wasting disease prognosis of living past 3

‘Little warrior’ Zou graduates from primary school, thanks to his family’s devotion and warmth of teachers and classmates

A 12-year-old boy in eastern China with a rare disease has graduated from primary school in June, defying doctors who had predicted he would not live beyond the age of three.

Zou Weiluo, from Shanghai, was diagnosed at seven months with spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA, a condition that progressively weakens the muscles used for movement, swallowing and breathing.

Years of devoted care from his family helped him outlive the prognosis, and he could now move his fingers and flex his elbows slightly, according to The Paper.