For most of his 21 years, Jiang Yanchen nicknamed the “folded boy” lived bent over nearly at a 180-degree angle. Hailing from Shandong province in China, he suffered from an especially severe form of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a chronic inflammatory condition that progressively stiffens and curves the spine. Over time, his neck bent so far backward that his head and buttocks were mere inches apart, folding his body into the shape of a “Z.” This extreme deformity made even basic functions like walking, eating, and breathing excruciatingly difficult; at one point, his lung capacity was just 20 percent of a typical healthy adult’s.
Suffering in Silence: A Lack of Treatment
Because of limited medical resources, Jiang had no access to the specialized care needed to correct his condition—for years, he was forced to learn, walk, and live in either kneeling or prone positions. It wasn’t until 2023 that treatment became a possibility.
A Life-Changing Medical Intervention
Over the past two years, Jiang endured a staggering total of four major surgeries, each designed to realign his spine. Surgeons broke and reconstructed bones in his lumbar and cervical spine, hips, and chest. His final operation occurred in June and stretched for 12 hours. Immediately afterward, Jiang could lie flat—his spine had been corrected by approximately 170 degrees.
Walking Upright at Last
Following his last surgery, Jiang tackled a two-month rehabilitation involving intensive physical therapy. Remarkably, during a livestream session, he was able to take his first upright steps—a momentous milestone for someone who had never before experienced standing straight. His medical team, headed by orthopedic surgeon Liang Yijian, described the intervention as possibly “the world’s first successful 180-degree spinal orthopedic surgery”
Healing from the Inside Out
After the operations and rehab, the restoration of Jiang’s heart and lung functioning was declared normal again. His doctors praised his fortitude, saying Jiang showed “persistence much greater than that of an ordinary human being”
Feeling Like a Rebirth
“I feel reborn,” Jiang shared after the surgeries. He expressed that all the pain was worth it now that he could see himself more like an ordinary person. Encouragingly, he is expected to return to university this month, continuing his life with renewed hope and mobility.
Global Reactions: Celebrating Modern Medicine
When Jiang’s story was shared on Reddit, the responses were full of awe and admiration. One user wrote, “I can’t imagine the pain this guy went through before and after and especially the recovery. Mad props!” Another added, “Modern medicine is magnificent despite a very loud minority trying their absolute best to undermine it.” Others chimed in: “It’s mind blowing what we can do” and simply, “Hell yeah medical science”
Conclusion
Jiang Yanchen’s journey from living folded in half to walking upright is a testament to human resilience and the incredible advancements in medical science. Through years of pain, multiple complex surgeries, and rigorous rehabilitation, he has regained not just his posture but his independence and hope for the future. His story serves as a powerful reminder that breakthroughs in healthcare can transform lives, turning what once seemed impossible into reality.
