I think these kinds of questions are very personal. I had a close family member who couldn't walk. She didn't make her inability to walk a part of her identity, it was just something annoying she had to put up with. I doubt she would have been upset about gaining the ability to walk.

The only time I've heard these types of questions are around people who are deaf. I suspect that the issue is a complex one of language and community. My understanding is that (some?) deaf people consider sign language their primary language, not the native tongue of their country.

It's too bad that the hn downvoters are hitting your post so hard, this could be a useful, informative discussion. It's hard to talk about this kind of thing without crossing political correctness boundaries though.