An inspiration to us all

His attitude is different, more mature, as if the disease has in fact accelerated his mental development. If you ask a dumb question you can detect a hint of impatience. He seems to soak up information and his mind seems to be a few steps ahead. It's like talking to an intellectual or a wise, old man.

"I used to fight with classmates a long time ago, but not any more," he says. "Now I'm a good kid and the worst I do is borrow my brother's books and computer games without asking sometimes."

It is easy to see why he has so many friends and why he is pop-ular with girls. He's charming, has a great sense of humor and a deep humanity that comes from suffering and understanding.

"Pretty much everyone is good to me, no one is cruel. Before, when people didn't know I was sick or saw me in the push chair, then they said bad things or laughed, but not really any more."

Asked about his elder brother, who is 19 years old and is going blind, he says, "I feel sorry for him because of his eyes. I am my brother's eyes and my brother's legs are mine, so we won't get lost."

Since graduating from Pei Yin Junior High School (培英國中) to the National Hsinchu Senior High School (國立新竹高中) this year his life story has become an inspiration to many people and the Da-Ai Tele-vision Channel (大愛電視台), which is associated with the Tzu Chi Buddhist Compassion Relief Foundationz, is making a program about him.

"He's so positive, his story is so motivational, that's why people are interested in it," says Lin's mother.

We talk about Stephen Hawking, who wrote A Brief History of Time and is acknowledged as the greatest physicist since Albert Einstein.

The UK scientist was diagnosed as having amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at university and was given just a few years to live. He's 60 now and though largely immobile manages to write books and give speeches with the aid of a computer controlled by the movements of his hand.

The similarities are not lost on Lin.

As for his future, next week he will undergo surgery to straighten his spine. He will study hard at his new school and think about getting an electric wheelchair so he can be more independent.

Life goes on. Hawking writes on his Web site: "I have had motor neuron disease for practically all my adult life. Yet it has not prevented me from having a very attractive family, and being successful in my work. ... it shows that one need not lose hope."