Year-ender: 10 awe-inspiring stories in China (5)

Yang Zhiyang from Northwest China's Shaanxi province has been caring for his mother since 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

Yang Zhiyang from Northwest China's Shaanxi province works full-time to take care of his mother, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis for over 12 years.

His mother, Su Jing, came down with the disease in 2010. Yang, then 10, has since taken on the role of caregiver as the disease gradually took away Su's ability to care for herself.

As his father worked to earn money for the family, Yang would take care of Su after school every day. Now 22, Yang helps his mother with daily tasks such as bathing, feeding and physical exercises to help her maintain her mobility.

"My mother and I basically rely on eye contact. She gives a signal through a look, and I know what to do," Yang was quoted as saying.