When this boy was born with cerebral palsy his mother never gave up. Now he's going to Harvard.

A man born with cerebral palsy in central China in 1988 has been admitted to Harvard University in the United States.

Ding Ding, 29, nearly suffocated during a complication of his birth, which left him with his condition.

Doctors in Hubei province in China suggested to his mother, Zou Hongyan, that she might give him up as a baby.

They suggested it was futile to attempt to rescue him, as he would grow up disabled - even Ding Ding's father agreed.

Zou insisted on saving her child, and divorced his father.

Zou took up a number of jobs to support her son, including a college position, a job selling insurance and one as a protocol trainer.

She took him to rehab sessions and learned therapy procedures for his condition, playing games and puzzles with him in an attempt to boost his intelligence.

She told the South China Morning Post:

I didn’t want him to feel ashamed about this physical problems.

Because he had inferior abilities in many areas, I was quite strict on him to work hard to catch up where he had difficulties.

Ding Ding went on to graduate in 2011 with bachelor's degree from Peking University's Environmental Science and Engineering School.

He enrolled for a master's at the university's International Law School and after working for two years has started further studies at Harvard.

Ding Ding attributes his success to his mother's determination and devotion. She lives in Jingzhou, Hubei province.

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