Woman finds new life in professional sports, career after paralyzing condition
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.
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2026-07-22
