Liu Zi'ao was awaiting surgery in a Wuhan hospital to treat the tumor pressing on his spinal cord when, suddenly, he was told to leave. The novel coronavirus had plunged the central Chinese city's health care system into crisis, and all resources were being diverted to contain it.
In the month since, the 25-year-old former acupuncturist has been turned away from hospital after hospital as he seeks treatment. Because his right leg has atrophied, he will need an ambulance to pick him up if one agrees to admit him. But there are few spare ambulances, hospital beds or doctors at the epicenter of the outbreak, which has infected over 75,000 people.
He has been downing Oxycontin — an addictive, powerful opioid — to manage his excruciating chronic pain, but the pills are running out. "I don't know what I will do," said Liu.