Here he is, Chairman Mao, lying in state. On September 9, it was fifty years since he passed away, but the party leadership in Beijing chose to make as little as possible of the anniversary. A few commemorations were held here and there, but with little fanfare.
Mao had been ill for several years when he finally died, at the age of 82. Three years before his death, he began having increasing difficulty moving his arms and legs. He also struggled to speak clearly, chew and swallow, and hold his head upright. In 1974, he was examined by several neurologists. According to Mao’s personal physician, Li Zhisui, they concluded that he was most likely suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — ALS.
The disease destroys the nerve cells that control the muscles, while mental faculties are normally preserved. The descriptions fitted Mao’s condition well, for he continued reading documents and making political decisions almost until his death. His final struggle was nevertheless dramatic. In early September, he could barely breathe. Mao asked the doctors whether he was going to die, but no one was willing to tell him the truth.
“Everything will be all right, Chairman,” Dr. Li Zhisui assured him.
