A 52-year-old cancer patient has received his master degree in law from Zhejiang University and has been widely praised by netizens for his eagerness for knowledge and indomitable vitality.

Dong Liaoyu, a civil servant in East China’s Zhejiang province, was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, a kidney cancer with a five-year survival rate of less than 30 percent, at the age of 40. The grievous news struck him out of blue, forcing him to accept the fact that he may never have the chance to fulfill his childhood dream of being a lawyer.

“The diagnosis knocked me down. The thought of leaving my family behind tortured me, but I couldn’t give up, as I was determined to accomplish an impossible mission – to study law and become a lawyer while receiving medical treatment,” Dong told the Haining Daily, a local newspaper.

“My medical treatment took up most of my spare time, leaving me only five hours per day to study. My persistence shocked many patients in the hospital, who thought I was crazy,” Dong added, noting that his endless effort has enabled him to finish all required undergraduate courses within half a year.

Dong’s craving for knowledge has not only alleviated his illness, but has also set a milestone for his law-study journey in 2012, when he passed the national judicial exams and became qualified to practice law. Unsatisfied with his progress, Dong decided to apply for a master degree in law at Zhejiang University, one of the best universities in China.

“I felt like an old freak when taking the entrance exam. All the other candidates were much younger than me, and even the professors were shocked by my persistence,” said Dong, who spent three years working on his law degree. He graduated in 2017.

“By the power of belief and persistence and a desire for goodness, I have fought the lethal disease and achieved my goal,” he added.