In 2014, just days before their wedding, 28-year-old Li Mei suffered severe injuries in a traffic accident in Zhejiang province. The damage to her left hemisphere was so extensive that doctors issued three critical condition notices, warning she might remain in a vegetative state even if she survived.
Her fiance, 36-year-old Shen Lan, pleaded with doctors to do everything possible to save her. "I believe she will wake up," he insisted.
Three months later, a miracle occurred: Li opened her eyes. However, her cognitive abilities had regressed to those of a 5-year-old.
Shen became Li's full-time caregiver. He exhausted his savings on her treatment, often limiting himself to two meals a day to conserve funds. His parents sold livestock and borrowed money from relatives to support him.
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Li and Shen before and after the accident. Photo: SCMP |
Li and Shen before and after the accident. Photo: SCMP
The couple met in 2009 at a gas station where Li worked part-time. Despite her family's objections due to Shen's financial situation, she remained committed to him.
"When I was hospitalized for appendicitis, she stayed by my side day and night," Shen recalled. "I can't abandon her when she needs me most."
As their story spread on social media, donations poured in. Shen meticulously recorded the dates and names of every contributor in a notebook.
In 2015, a nursing home in Zhejiang offered to accommodate Li free of charge and hired Shen as a nursing assistant, allowing him to earn a living while caring for her.
Shen embraced his new role, viewing the elderly residents as family and his work as a way to give back.
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Shen and Li now live in the nursing home. Photo: Weibo |
Shen and Li now live in the nursing home. Photo: Weibo
The nursing home has become their home, and after years of devotion, they officially married.
Shen patiently teaches his wife simple words, plays music to stimulate her memory, and personally washes her hair. "She doesn't want to cut it, so I try to keep it clean and fragrant for as long as possible," he explained with a smile.
Both families have urged Shen to find someone new or have children, but he has refused. "I've never seen her as a burden. I just want to give her the best I can," he affirmed.
Shen and Li's enduring love story has touched millions. "True love doesn't need many words, just actions. Shen is a miracle in her life," one netizen commented. "He's like something out of a fairy tale," another praised.
Nhat Minh (SCMP/Weibo)
