Shen Lan, 38, has spent over 10 years caring for his wife Li Mei after a devastating car accident in 2014 left her with the cognitive abilities of a five-year-old child.
The couple, both originally from Guizhou province in southwestern China, had been planning their wedding when tragedy struck. Li suffered severe injuries in a traffic accident just before their scheduled ceremony.
Doctors rushed Li to the intensive care unit, where medical staff issued three critical illness notices. The accident caused significant damage to the left side of her brain.
The medical team informed Shen that even if they managed to save Li’s life, she would likely remain in a vegetative state permanently.
Shen pleaded with doctors to do everything possible to save his fiancée. He maintained a bedside vigil, caring for her every single day during her hospitalisation.
After three months in the ICU, Li remarkably awakened from her coma. However, her cognitive abilities had declined dramatically to match those of a five-year-old.
Shen and Li first met in 2009 at a petrol station where Li worked part-time. At the time, Li was eight years younger than Shen.
Li’s parents strongly opposed their relationship due to his financial situation. Despite family pressure, Li remained firm in her decision to marry him.
Their bond strengthened in 2013 when Shen was hospitalised for acute appendicitis. Li cared for him dedicatedly during his recovery.
Following Li’s accident, the daily cost of Li’s treatment reached 5,000 yuan (~SGD$970). Shen exhausted all his savings to cover her medical expenses.
To manage the financial burden, Shen often survived on just two meals per day. His parents sold the family’s livestock and borrowed money from relatives to help fund Li’s care.
Media coverage of their story prompted generous donations from members of the public across China.
Shen kept a detailed notebook documenting the dates and names of everyone who offered assistance during the difficult period.
Li was discharged from the hospital in 2015 after spending months in medical care. A nursing home in Zhejiang province offered her a place to stay and waived all fees for her residency, providing comprehensive rehabilitation services at no cost.
Management also offered Shen a position as a nursing assistant, allowing him to earn income while remaining close to his wife.
Shen expressed gratitude by treating elderly residents at the facility like family members.
The couple married and continue to live happily together at the nursing home a decade after the accident.
Shen teaches Li simple words daily and plays music for her entertainment. He helps to wash her long hair, which she refuses to cut short.
Shen’s parents urged him to find a new partner, but he rejected their advice. Li’s parents asked the couple to have children, but Shen declined out of concern for Li’s health.
“I never found her troublesome. I strive to give her the best of what I can offer,” Shen stated.
Online observers praised Shen’s devotion, with one commenting that “love creates miracles” and another noting that “a man like Shen exists only in fairy tales.”
