by Imagine being bent over at a 180-degree angle, your head and hips nearly touching, every single day. That was the reality for 21-year-old Jiang Yanchen, a young man from Shandong province, China, who spent most of his life living with a rare and severe form of ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
AS is a chronic disease where the spine and joints become inflamed, gradually fusing and limiting movement. While many patients deal with stiffness and pain, Jiang’s condition was extreme. Over time, his body folded into a sharp “Z” shape — making everyday tasks like walking, eating, or even breathing nearly impossible. At one point, his lung function dropped to just 20% of what’s normal.
Life Before Surgery
Jiang’s condition earned him the nickname “the folded boy.” Because of limited access to medical resources, he spent years kneeling or lying down in school just to study. Simple things most of us take for granted became painful challenges for him.
Jiang Yanchen, known as the ‘folded boy,’ underwent four surgeries to correct the 180-degree deformity in his spine (YouTube/South China Morning Post)
The Turning Point
Everything changed in 2023, when Jiang was finally able to undergo treatment. Over the span of two years, he endured four major surgeries led by orthopedic surgeon Liang Yijian.
The operations were grueling — doctors had to break and realign bones in his spine, hips, and chest. His final surgery in June lasted a staggering 12 hours. But the results were life-changing.
According to Global Times, Jiang’s spine was straightened by nearly 170 degrees, giving him the chance to stand upright for the very first time.
Standing Tall Again
Two months after his last operation, during a livestream, Jiang stunned viewers by taking his first upright steps. His doctors even called it “the world’s first successful 180-degree spinal orthopedic surgery.”
Two months after his final surgery, Jiang took his first upright steps (YouTube/South China Morning Post)
Beyond appearance, the surgery also restored Jiang’s heart and lung function to healthy levels. His surgeon praised his persistence, saying Jiang showed determination far beyond the ordinary.
For Jiang, the moment was nothing short of a rebirth. “All the pain is worth it when I see myself more like an ordinary person,” he said, adding that he finally felt like himself again.
Back to Living His Dreams
Now, Jiang is preparing to return to university, ready to continue the life that ankylosing spondylitis once tried to take away. His story has gone viral online, with Reddit users praising his strength and the power of modern medicine.
As one commenter put it: “Hell yeah medical science.” And really, what better way to sum it up?
👉 Learn more about ankylosing spondylitis here.
👉 Watch Jiang’s inspiring recovery story covered by South China Morning Post.
