Erinome：Hello dear friends! Welcome to our podcast. Today, we’re going to talk about some brave people fighting against a terrible disease called ALS. Have you heard about Cai Lei? He’s an ALS patient, but he’s doing amazing things!
Enceladus：Oh right! I saw his open letter on January 1st. He wrote, “ALS will definitely be defeated! It’s just a matter of time.” Wow, that’s so strong!
Erinome：Yes! He used an eye-controlled device to write it. And he said some patients even got better because of new treatments.
Enceladus：Really? How?
Erinome：He worked with Chinese scientists on drugs for ALS caused by genes like SOD1. These patients use the treatment a few times, each only a few minutes, and it might change their lives completely!
Enceladus：Oh that’s incredible! He said ALS, this 200-year-old “demon”, was “killed in seconds” for them. Sad that before, this was impossible, even不敢想 (bù gǎn xiǎng - couldn’t dare to think).
Erinome：But Cai Lei is in the end stage now. His ALSFRS-R score dropped from 48 to single digits after 6 years fighting. He said his brain is super clear, but his body is “locked” like by a magnet—can’t move, always in pain, even breathing is hard. Oh no, that sounds so cruel.
Enceladus：Poor him… But he’s still confident. He said, “This is a time of tech explosion. Dreams are possible!”
Erinome：Right! He even gave a speech with AI on CCTV’s “AI Wonderful Night” last December. And he wrote a book in 2023 called *Believe*, about his fight—doubt, despair, but never giving up.
Enceladus：I remember! The book said he tried many “crazy” treatments, like a warrior. And in 2024, he told CCTV he’s “fighting death for the last time”. He said, “Being sad is useless. I just work hard every day.”
Erinome：He still checks病友 groups every day, because “every moment is precious for them”. He hopes 2026, the start of China’s “15th Five-Year Plan”, will bring big breakthroughs.
Enceladus：Um, before ALS, Cai Lei was super successful! He was called “China’s first e-invoice person”, worked at JD as a vice president. He even finished 1000 papers in a few months after getting sick!
Erinome：Wow! And JD’s Liu Qiangdong supported him—he said JD will pay for employees’ kids’ study and life if they have bad luck. That’s kind.
Enceladus：But his wife, Duan Rui, is amazing too. She’s a pharmacy student, now helps with his drug research. They married 2 weeks after meeting!
Erinome：So sweet… But there’s another sad story—Lou Tao, an ALS PhD student. She passed away, but her遗嘱 (yízhǔ - will) was so moving.
Enceladus：Oh no, I remember her. She said, “Life’s meaning isn’t length, but quality.” She wanted to donate her organs and brain for research, and scatter her ashes in the river.
Erinome：Yes. She got sick at 29, couldn’t move, but she listened to 60 books! She said she was sad she couldn’t keep studying her favorite major.
Enceladus：Sad… But her story gives hope. Cai Lei and Lou Tao, they’re both fighting for ALS patients.
Erinome：Cai Lei even sold his house and car to fund research. He said, “I’ll fight until the last bullet.”
Enceladus：You know that? He started a live stream to raise money, selling cheap things like slippers and snacks. All money goes to ALS research.
Erinome：Wow, he’s so selfless. Even when he’s in so much pain, he thinks of others.
Enceladus：Doctors say ALS is like “soul trapped in body”—you’re clear but can’t move. Cai Lei wrote that it’s crueler than a vegetable.
Erinome：But he never gives up. He said, “Every high mountain is climbed by humans. ALS will be too!”
Enceladus：I hope his dream comes true soon. For all ALS patients, and for Lou Tao’s wish too.
Erinome：Me too. Let’s remember their courage. Okay, that’s it for today. Let’s talk again next time. Bye!
Enceladus：Bye!Erinome：Hello everyone! Today we’re going to talk about some inspiring stories about ALS patients. Have you heard of Cai Lei? He’s an ALS fighter, and there’s new news about him this year!
Enceladus：Oh right! On January 1st, he wrote an open letter to other ALS patients using an eye-controlled device. He said, “ALS will definitely be defeated! It’s just a matter of time.” That sounds so strong!
Erinome：Yes! He said his team worked with Chinese scientists on drugs for ALS caused by genes like SOD1. Some patients tried it a few times, each only minutes, and it changed their lives!
Enceladus：Really? Like… “秒杀” (miǎoshā - kill in seconds) the 200-year-old disease? Wow, that’s amazing!
Erinome：He wrote, “A few years ago, this was impossible, even不敢想 (bù gǎn xiǎng - couldn’t dare to think), but now it’s real.” But his own condition is very bad.
Enceladus：Oh no… How bad is it?
Erinome：He’s fought ALS for 6 years. His ALSFRS-R score dropped from 48 to single digits—end stage. He said his brain is clear, but his body is “locked” like by a magnet. He can’t move, feels pain, even breathing is hard. Sad…
Enceladus：That’s terrible. Like a “soul trapped in body”? I read that ALS is like that.
