Heartwarming Story Behind a Deformed 7-Year-Old Dancing Star

The heartwarming video of a physically-impaired 7-year-old girl has caught the attention of many netizens across social media platforms, captivated by her optimism and happiness from doing what she loves: dancing. 

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"Dancing exercises my legs so they don't shrink."

In the video, Junxi, from Tai’an in Shandong province, dances like a normal person, walking a brisk rhythm and bursting with energy.

What’s particularly captivating is the overly expressive face she makes every time she dances.

Despite her seemingly normal dancing form, Junxi suffers from lupus panniculitis, which  has caused severe deformation around her left foot. But her physically impairment has not deterred her from continue to pursue her passion and dance, regardless of weather conditions.

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Her photographic memory helps her remember any dance move she sees, and replicate them, attracting millions of fans online.

Last April, Junxi joined a group of elderly in her village’s public square to dance along, and was in perfect sync. Her grandfather, Li Changyun, believes she has a knack for both dancing and acting.

Her grandma has been helping her shoot all the videos that have now made her little Junxi an online sensation, “She has a gift for dancing,” she told reporters. “She can just watch a dance move once and she’ll be able to replicate it.”

Ever since Junxi’s fame has picked up, they have opened a live-streaming account, broadcasting her every dance move, every single day. Over time, Junxi has attracted millions of followers through her online platforms.

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 The backstory

When Junxi was only 2 years old, her left leg began to look and feel strange, swelling in places for no apparent reason. Her parents took her to a variety of medical centers and doctors to understand what was happening, but it wasn’t until their little girl was 5 years old that she had finally been diagnosed with lupus panniculitis, a chronic inflammatory disease. 

While Junxi’s happiness remains a priority, her grandma remains concerned about the ongoing spread of the disease, which is still not yet under control. “If it ever reaches her kidneys, it could be life-threatening,” she worries.

Meanwhile, medical expenses have been piling up, reaching more than RMB 200,000. Her parents had to sell the new home they had recently purchased and pick up a few shifts in Weihai, Shandong province. At this moment, they can only visit their daughter once a year, during Chinese New Year.

Being far apart from their precious daughter has been the hardest part.

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Despite being only 7 years old, Junxi understands how expensive her disease treatment has been. She’s also aware that her grandmother may not be around for much longer, which is why she has let her shoot all those videos of her, as a souvenir for both her grandparents and her parents who live far away from her.

“When I asked Junxi what she wants to be when she grows older, she told me ‘I want to earn enough money to help people in need’,” her grandmother reported. “To help everyone who has helped me.”

Watching her video evokes a whole range of emotions, and you can’t help but empathize with her situation while also feeling excited about a little girl pursing her passion.

She’s the perfect reminder that while there are things that are completely out of our control, we can focus on the things we do have control over, which include the people who are closest to us, care for us, and love us unconditionally.

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Editor: Crystal H

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