Video: Zhao Lusi first appeared after stroke: Needed someone to carry her, couldn’t hold a spoon, had difficulty chewing and swallowing
Zhao Lusi’s frail, unrecognizable appearance has left many deeply saddened.
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On January 1, Zhao Lusi shared several images and videos documenting her treatment and rehabilitation journey over the past 10 days. The actress was hospitalized on December 18, 2024, and has since begun speaking and moving again.
In the images, viewers were heartbroken to see a visibly thin Zhao Lusi. Initially, she was unable to move and had to be carried to her bed by friends. Gradually, she started practicing walking, her legs trembling with every step. At one point, she even hit her legs in frustration and cried when they wouldn’t respond properly.
The actress also experienced muscle spasms in her arms, making it impossible to hold a spoon normally—she had to use her entire hand instead. Her frail, emaciated figure has been unrecognizable, leaving fans distressed.
According to her close friend Wei Xiao, Zhao Lusi has dedicated significant time to practicing postures and functional recovery exercises. Once committed to memorizing scripts and working tirelessly in acting classes, she is now relearning how to speak due to impaired language functions.
Zhao Lusi reportedly experienced difficulty breathing and required an oxygen tank on December 14. By December 17, she collapsed from exhaustion and had to be rushed back to the hospital for emergency care.
According to Sina, Zhao Lusi has been losing weight continuously over the past six months. Initially, the public assumed she was trying to slim down for aesthetic purposes. However, after her illness became apparent, it was clear that her weight loss stemmed from psychological issues. Standing at approximately 1.6 meters tall (5’3″), she originally weighed around 45 kg (99 lbs). However, her weight plummeted to just 35 kg (77 lbs), leaving her extremely frail.
Wei Xiao revealed that Zhao Lusi is slowly regaining her ability to speak and has started standing for rehabilitation exercises.
Additionally, Wei Xiao’s post disclosed that Zhao Lusi’s health had been unstable even earlier. When the two met on November 9, her birthday, Wei Xiao noticed the actress’s poor health and low spirits. Zhao Lusi later joined the filming crew of Lovers and suffered a stroke on December 18.
According to the People’s Daily, doctors suspect Zhao Lusi’s condition may be due to central nervous system demyelination caused by an autoimmune disorder following a cold. This condition, commonly linked to autoimmune diseases, went untreated for over two weeks, necessitating rehabilitation.
