Woman finds new life in professional sports, career after paralyzing condition
Woman finds new life in professional sports, career after paralyzing condition
2026-07-22
Mermaids don’t have legs to walk or stand on. In real life, there are also people who can’t use their legs. Pan Chih-yu refused to give up after suffering a condition that left her paralyzed from the waist down. Despite being wheelchair-bound, Pan has learned how to free dive just like a mermaid, and she plays table tennis. She now also has a full-time corporate job. With support from loved ones and her own resilience, her story tells everyone that even if your movement is limited, life has endless possibilities. Here’s our special report.
Rays of light ripple through the water as a mermaid gently sways her tail, moving as freely and gracefully as a dancer.
Pan Chih-yu
Paraplegic
At the time I thought mermaids were so beautiful, so I asked my coach if I could try. He said I could, and got me a mermaid tail.
Pan Chih-yu got to try mermaiding with help from coaches. She cannot put on the tail or get into the water herself. Her coaches gently dropped her.
- Ok, here we go! Three, two, one!
- What makes this difficult?
- It’s difficult to put it on.
- This part at the bottom?
- I wear socks to avoid injuries, because I can’t feel my legs.
- Does it always take so much effort to put on the costume?
- Yes, it’s difficult to put on a mermaid costume.
- But the coach said “there is always a price to pay for beauty.”
- Yes, it takes a lot, especially from those around me.
In the water you can’t tell that she’s paraplegic. Despite being compleletely paralyzed from the waist down, Pan found a quiet corner for herself underwater.
Pan Chih-yu
Paraplegic
It’s really soothing. I have to keep pushing to move on land, but in the water, it wakes only a gentle nudge.
Pan is all smiles when talking about being underwater, but it wasn’t easy for her to accept her condition. Before she was 15, Pan was on her school’s volleyball team. But that soon changed.
Pan Chih-yu
Paraplegic
The first time I showed symptoms, I was practicing volleyball and doing weight training. I was carrying a classmate while running. As soon as my classmate got on top of me, I started feeling discomfort. After about half an hour, I got a really bad headache.
She was eventually diagnosed with an arteriovenous malformation that damaged her spinal cord. Even after six surgeries, she could no longer stand, completely changing her life.
Pan Chih-yu
Paraplegic
I collected a lot of meds like sleeping pills. I thought about taking them, but then I thought that I can’t leave my family like that. I thought, if I go, then it would be hard on them. I couldn’t do that.
Even after becoming paraplegic, Pan could still take care of herself. But those days are numbers.
Pan Chih-yu
Paraplegic
My hands can’t fully function. I used to be able to go to the toilet on my own, but now I need help from my mother. She has to put on medical gloves with Vaseline and perform anal dilation on me. I don’t think just anyone would be willing to do it even if it’s immediate family members. But my mom always tells me that she’s willing to do anything for me without asking for anything in return. All she wants is for me to be healthy and happy.
Pan Chih-yu
Paraplegic
Everything my mom makes is delicious. She always makes huge portions. Just look at my dad. You should see his old photos. He’s gained as much weight in numbers as the years they’re married.
Her family’s love and care were the strength Pan needed to move forward.
Pan Chih-yu
Paraplegic
Life pushes you forward, so you must keep going. If not, you’ll be trapped here in your own room. I don’t think that’s the right way to live.
As someone who used to play volleyball, sports are in her blood. Even now, she continues to do sports on land and underwater. Apart from water sports, she also plays wheelchair table tennis.
Pan Chih-yu
Paraplegic
It feels like how I used to play volleyball. You can play to your heart’s content. It’s not off limits just because you’re wheelchair-bound.
But she’s not your average sports lover. Pan has already played many times for the national team, which allowed her to build experience and confidence.
Chen Yu-jung
Table tennis coach
I clearly remember that one year when her condition flared up again and required surgery. Even then, she still showed up at a match wearing a neck brace. She persisted, all for that one little white ball. I was really in awe of that spirit of hers.
Pan not only mastered table tennis, she also does underwater sports, even if she needs a little help from others.
Her diving coach Chen Chien-hung used to be a physical therapist. Under his guidance, Pan could finally enjoy some moments to herself away from the wheelchair.
Pan Chih-yu
Paraplegic
It’s really relaxing. On land, I must use a wheelchair, but underwater, I could simply drift. It feels like gravity disappeared. It’s really, really relaxing.
Chen Chien-hung
Freediving coach
They often get pressure injury on their backside from exercising on a wheelchair, due to the weight and pressure. It’s not as straining underwater, so we hope that they can fully stretch out their limbs underwater and try out other forms of sports and leisure.
More people joined in. There’s a photographer and coaches looking out for her safety. The teamwork ensured that this beautiful moment is captured forever.
Pan Wei-wen
Pan Chih-yu’s father
I just hope that the road ahead is long. She has to be independent, healthy, and happy. Find her own path in life.
Yeh Yu-chi
Pan Chih-yu’s mother
Your path in life is important. We hope that she does whatever she wants to do. We’ll support her fully.
Pan now works in customer service at Starlux Airlines. Previously, she worked at an NGO for paraplegic advocacy and a hospital. Despite her varied professional experience, a corporate job marked a new chapter in her life.
Pan Chih-yu
Paraplegic
I thought I wouldn’t get hired, because I need to use a wheelchair. But many companies lack sufficient accessibility infrastructure, so they may not hire someone on a wheelchair, because it’s quite an investment.
Eric
Starlux Airlines HR
I was impressed by her upbeat and proactive attitude despite having reduced mobility. Looking at her professional and academic experience, I decided that she’s the one we’re looking for.
Pan Chih-yu
Paraplegic
This is the company’s accessible toilet. I have to get up and move myself over, and fell down on two or three instances. When the company found out, they got this hospital bed for me to use.
Pan is the first employee with reduced mobility in the company. The hospital bed is only one example of how the company accommodated her needs.
Pan Chih-yu
Paraplegic
For example, this counter here is quite high for me. So the general affairs helped me prepare lunchboxes so I won’t have to pick up each dish one-by-one, which is quite straining for my hands.
She’s also giving back to the company in her own way, even if she’s not always aware of it.
Brandy
Pan Chih-yu’s colleague
Once when I had just gotten off work, I saw her getting out of a car. What would usually take only a minute or two for most people would take her up to 20 or 30 minutes. It really made me think how it’s not easy to empathize with how much difficulty they face if you don’t have first-hand experience witnessing it.
Emmy
Starlux Airlines customer service
It’s not easy to work in customer service. Many customers come to you full of complaints, or all sorts of emotions. After she joined our team—like I said, she’s always so upbeat towards life and she’s really courageous no matter what’s thrown at her—and I believe that spirit has really rubbed off on the rest of the team.
Pan encouraged people around her with her life experience, while her job helped her get a clearer direction in life.
Pan Chih-yu
Paraplegic
I was happy after I started earning money. It allowed my parents to relax a little. They don’t need to worry about me being unable to work or support myself.
Pan hopes that her parents could worry less about her, but her parents still do, unsurprisingly.
- Yes, we still do. For example, yesterday she wanted to go out and get tofu pudding. I still wanted to be by her side.
- So you still worry?
- But it’s one baby step at a time.
- Yes, one step at a time.
Yeh Yu-chi
Pan Chih-yu’s mother
We hardly ever shed tears in front of her or say anything negative. We try to be positive for her. We hope that she won’t have to experience too many negative emotions, because that’s not good for her condition.
Pan Chih-yu
Paraplegic
My parents won’t tell me not to do one thing or another because it might be dangerous. I think that’s the best for us. It’s best that they’re not overprotective.
Pan may be restricted to a wheelchair, but it doesn’t restrict her laughter or courage. Her parents’ love and coworkers’ support give her the strength she needs to keep going. Her story proves that despite constraints, one can still live a full life.
Yeh Yu-chi
Pan Chih-yu’s mother
Keep going for it! This is life, overcoming challenge after challenge. There’s nothing you can’t overcome. Your dad and I will forever be your support. Just keep going. I love you. I’ll always love you.
#paraplegic #inspiring #mermaid #freediving #wheelchair #wheelchairtabletennis #disability #family
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勇敢美人魚潘稚莠 用勇氣活出不被限制的人生
2026-07-22
在童話故事中，水裡的美人魚無法站立，而我們今天介紹的主角，她同樣失去了雙腳的能力，卻活出美麗而堅毅的生命，她是脊髓損傷者潘稚莠。目前在航空公司任職的潘稚莠，15歲時因為血管動靜脈畸形，導致半身癱瘓，從此與輪椅為伴，但她沒有被命運困住，不但參加自由潛水，在水裡化身美人魚，也在桌球場上揮拍拚搏，展現運動員的專注與力量；而鏡頭之外，她最堅定的後盾，是家人無怨無悔的陪伴與愛。稚莠用笑容、勇氣與行動，告訴我們：就算肢體不便，生命仍有無限可能。
水面下的光線隨著波紋閃爍，美人魚的尾巴輕盈的翻轉，潘稚莠就像舞者，在水中自在綻放美麗。
[[脊髓損傷者 潘稚莠]]
“那時候只是想說，看到覺得好漂亮，問教練說我可不可以玩，教練他說可以試試看，就去幫我生美人魚尾巴”
稚莠每次下水，都需要他人協助。教練們協力用移動帶，小心翼翼移到泳池邊，動作緩慢，卻充滿默契。
“來 開始歐
一 二 三
(這困難的點在哪)
不好穿進去
(底部的地方)
因為我們會穿襪子，擔心腳會受傷，因為沒感覺
(每一次著裝都這麼艱難嗎)
對，如果穿美人魚的話，會很辛苦
(但是剛剛教練說，要美麗就要有代價)
對，這是要付出的，辛苦了旁邊的人”
在水中其實看不出來，稚莠其實是脊髓損傷者，雖然下半身無法行動，卻在無重力的水中世界，找回心靈的解放。
[[脊髓損傷者 潘稚莠]]
“我覺得滿療癒的，因為在陸地上就是一直推，可是在水裡，只要輕輕的動一下就會往前”
滿臉笑容，說得雲淡風輕，其實稚莠的青春並不平凡，是排球校隊選手，她原本和同齡孩子一樣活躍在球場上，直到十五歲那年，因為病變與手術，命運悄悄改寫。
[[脊髓損傷者 潘稚莠]]
“第一次發病，我那時候是打排球，做重量，體能訓練，揹同學坐在肩膀上跑球場，同學一坐上去我就覺得不舒服，大概隔半個鐘頭，頭開始劇烈的疼痛”
幾次反覆的不適，終於找出病因，醫生診斷，稚莠罹患「血管動靜脈畸形」，造成脊髓受損，經過六次手術，最終無法再站起來，人生徹底改變。
[[脊髓損傷者 潘稚莠]]
“我收集很多類似安眠藥，我有想過要吃，但是又覺得放不下我的家人，我會覺得， 如果我走了，我讓他們這麼難過什麼的，會覺得捨不得”
下半身癱瘓之後，生活大小事 ，稚莠幾乎都能獨立完成，唯有在身體最不便的時刻，仍需要親人的協助。
[[脊髓損傷者 潘稚莠]]
“因為我手功能不好，(排便)之前可以，但是現在因為排便，我沒有辦法自理，所以都是媽媽負責，他們要戴護理師用的手套，塑膠手套用凡士林，進去做擴肛的動作，說不定有些家人沒有辦法接受，但是我媽媽最常跟我講，她對我的付出是無怨無悔 ，她不求我任何回報，她只要我健康，快樂就好”
[[脊髓損傷者 潘稚莠]]
“我媽媽做什麼菜都很好吃，每次都做很多，你看爸爸，應該要拿爸爸以前的舊照片出來，結婚幾年就成長幾公斤”
家人的愛與守護，是稚莠向前的力量。
[[脊髓損傷者 潘稚莠]]
生活就是推著你走，你就必須往前，因為如果不走，你就是關在這裡，就是關在房間，我覺得生活好像不應該是這樣
稚莠曾經是排球校隊選手，擁有天生的運動細胞，如今水陸雙棲，不僅挑戰水域運動，也投入身障桌球。
[[脊髓損傷者 潘稚莠]]
“可以像以前那種在打排球的感覺，你可以盡情的打，沒有因為你坐輪椅不能做這項運動”
對稚莠來說，桌球並不只是興趣，她早已成為身障桌球國手，在無數比賽中累積經驗與自信。
[[桌球教練 陳渝蓉]]
“其實印象最深刻的是，有一年因為她病變，又復發了，必須要去開刀，所以後來當時她比賽的時候，還是帶著頸圈上場打比賽，看著她為了一顆小白球，一直努力的拚，我覺得這樣的精神，讓我很敬佩，很佩服”
在桌球場上，稚莠能靠自己的努力揮拍對戰，但回到水中，要完成每一次的行動，都必須依靠許多人的協助。
潛水教練陳建宏也曾是治療師，在他的帶領下，稚莠找回了久違的自由。
[[脊髓損傷者 潘稚莠]]
“很輕鬆，很放鬆的那種感覺，因為平常我們在岸上只能推輪椅，在水上我可以用漂的，整個人是無重力的狀態下，就覺得非常舒服”
[[自由潛水教練 陳建宏]]
“在輪椅上面的運動，有很多都會因為重力，壓力的關係，會讓他們屁股有一些壓傷的部分，在水裡面相對他的壓力是比較少，所以我們希望說，他們在水裡面，是可以伸展自己的手腳，讓自己能夠在裡面，去做其他運動以及休閒這樣子”
為了留下稚莠最美麗的美人魚身影，這一次有更多人加入圓夢的行列，有人負責攝影取景，也有人在身旁守護，大家分工合作，只為讓她能安心展現自己。
[[潘稚莠父親 潘威文]]
“我只希望未來的路還很長，她一定要獨立、健康、快樂，找到自己的生活方向”
[[潘稚莠母親 葉郁琦]]
“生活方向很重要，我們是希望她做想要的事情，我們全力支持她 ，希望她快樂就好，每天快樂就好”
稚莠目前在星宇航空的客服部任職，她也曾在脊髓損傷潛能發展中心和醫院工作，職場經驗相當多元，而在一般企業就業，對她而言卻是人生的新篇章。
[[脊髓損傷者 潘稚莠]]
“其實一開始覺得不會被錄取，因為我覺得坐輪椅，很多公司不太喜歡用，因為相對來講無障礙的問題，如果為了你一個改無障礙，那是很大的工程”
[[航空業人力資源室員工關係組經理 Eric]]
“我想身障同仁，坐著輪椅，可是她的笑容還有積極度，還有她本身過往的工作學識，都讓我覺得非常OK，她就是我們要的人”
[[脊髓損傷者 潘稚莠]]
“這邊就是無障礙廁所，主要是因為之前，我都是馬桶移位上廁所，因為跌了兩次還三次，後來公司知道，盡快搞了一張照護床，這個是專屬我可以在這邊”
稚莠是公司中第一位使用輪椅行動的身障者，同仁不但幫她訂製照護床，也在工作環境中，安排了各種貼心設計。
[[脊髓損傷者 潘稚莠]]
“平常像這個檯子比較高，所以總務那邊同仁 ，幫我想一個解決方案，幫我打成便當式，讓我不用這樣拿，因為我的手不太方便”
環境與服務的改善，是公司給稚莠的支持，而她的笑容與勇氣，則為公司帶來最珍貴的無形改變。
[[潘稚莠同事 Brandy]]
“有一次我下班的時候，看到她從車上下來，可能我們一般人需要一、兩分鐘，她可能要花20、30分鐘，所以有時候會覺得，自己沒有真實體驗到那個狀況，你會很難去體諒他們，遇到有多大的困難”
[[航空業客服處協理 Emmy]]
“客服人員也不太好當，因為客人很多都是充滿了抱怨 ，或者是不一樣的情緒，可是當她加入之後，因為我剛剛有講，她對生命是充滿了笑容的，她是很有勇氣去面對她所有周遭的環境，所以我覺得她的這一份力量，有感染其他的同事們，在她周圍的同事“
稚莠的生命故事激勵許多人，而工作回饋給稚莠的，則是走向更清晰的人生目標
[[脊髓損傷者 潘稚莠]]
“後來有賺錢之後覺得滿快樂的，也讓爸媽可以放心，不用擔心說以後自己這樣怎麼辦，沒有工作能力，沒辦法養活自己”
稚莠想要自立自強，讓爸媽少一份牽掛，但在父母眼中，女兒仍要獨自面對許多困難，心疼與不安，其實從未消失。
“其實會的，因為比如說像昨天她要去買豆花，我也是會想說陪著她一起走
(每一刻都是在擔心的)
走一步是一步，就是這樣
走一步是一步”
[[潘稚莠母親 葉郁琦]]
“我們都幾乎不怎麼在她面前掉眼淚，或者是講不好的，我們都呈現比較正向的給她，希望她不要有太多負面情緒就對了，因為這對她病情不好”
[[脊髓損傷者 潘稚莠]]
“父母不會說，這個危險你不要去，那個危險你不要去，我覺得這樣是，對我們來說是最好的，不要有過多的保護，我覺得是比較好的”
輪椅或許限制了稚莠的雙腳，卻沒有奪走她的笑容與勇氣，家人的愛，同事的支持，推著她一步步向前走，潘稚莠用自己的故事告訴我們，即使生命有所侷限，依然能活得明亮而精彩無限。
[[潘稚莠母親 葉郁琦]]
“人生就是這樣子，關關難過關關過，沒有過不了的坎，我和爸爸永遠是妳最後後盾，妳要加油，愛妳 永遠愛妳”
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