At first, she did not pay much attention. But a piercing pain in her lumbar spine quickly became noticeable.

"It hurt so much a 40-minute-class would make me break out in a cold sweat," Zhou said.

Zhou was diagnosed with a congenital isthmic fissure. The resulting lumbar spondylolisthesis, a displacement of vertebrae, disrupted her nerve functions.

Doctors suggested Zhou leave school for surgery, stating the worsening condition may affect her ability to perform daily tasks in the future.

"I thought my dream was within my reach, but it was suspended due to my illnesses," Zhou said.