Many of her professors took the high-speed railway from Shanghai to Henan on Saturday, and there were also a number of doctors and nurses waiting to prepare for unexpected situations.

At 9 am on Sunday, Cheng's graduation oral defense began on time in the meeting room of Henan Provincial People's Hospital.

Lying on a hospital bed, Cheng presented her thesis with a loudspeaker clipped to her collar. Although her voice was weak, her thoughts were clear. She made excellent replies to the questions raised by the professors.

"Cheng was well-prepared for her thesis and defense. We can tell that she put a lot of effort in her academic research," Lin Ling, one of the professors, said.

Cheng passed the oral defense with "excellent" grade. "After voting by all members of the defense committee, it is suggested that the university academic degree committee award her the master's degree," the chairman of the defense committee announced.

Cheng Hao said he was deeply touched watching his sister's over 40-minute of thesis defense. "The doctors said others would have collapsed due to the unbearable pain and a body that can't move."

"My sister was exhausted yet excited after the defense. It gave her enormous confidence. She will keep on rehabilitation training, get up someday and get back on track," said Cheng Hao.