A woman from central China has received widespread praise online after dedicating years of care to help her husband recover from a vegetative state following a tragic accident that left him with severe injuries.
Song Mei, 45, a former kindergarten art teacher from Henan province, spent years caring for her husband Zhao Jinqian, a waterproofing worker, after his life changed dramatically in 2019. The couple, who have two children, were known for living a simple life while often helping others despite their own financial struggles.
Before the tragedy, Song provided free painting lessons to children from underprivileged families, while Zhao used part of his income from difficult construction work to support a student from a rural mountain area. Their kindness towards others became a reflection of the couple’s character, according to local reports.
In October 2019, Zhao suffered life-threatening injuries after falling from a warehouse roof while trying to rescue a three-year-old child who was trapped. Witnesses said Zhao held the child tightly and used his own body to protect the youngster during the six-metre fall.
Although the child survived without injuries, Zhao suffered serious brain damage and multiple fractures after landing head first. Doctors initially gave little hope that he would regain consciousness, describing his survival as extremely rare.
Following the accident, Song left her job to become her husband’s full-time caregiver. She spent her days cleaning, massaging and speaking to him while also selling her artwork online to support the family and cover his medical expenses.
The family’s financial burden grew as Zhao required long-term treatment. The father of the child Zhao had rescued also continued supporting them and reportedly helped raise 45,000 yuan (around US$6,600) for Zhao’s medical care despite having limited financial resources himself.
Doctors had advised Song to stimulate her husband’s fingers and toes to encourage nerve recovery. According to local media reports, she once accidentally bit Zhao’s toe and noticed a slight reaction, leading her to continue the unusual method for years as part of his stimulation routine.
In 2024, Zhao began showing signs of improvement when he slowly started opening his eyes. Although he was still unable to speak or move at the time, his response to external stimulation gradually became stronger, giving Song renewed hope.
Throughout the rehabilitation process, Song continued encouraging her husband by singing to him and talking with him daily. Reports stated she had slept fewer than four hours a night for years while caring for Zhao.
Today, Zhao has made significant progress and can respond to speech, raise his hand and briefly stand with assistance. On June 30, he reportedly turned to his wife while lying in hospital and softly said, “Song Mei, I love you,” leaving her overwhelmed with happiness.
During writing exercises, Zhao was only able to form one phrase — his wife’s name, highlighting the emotional bond between the couple after years of hardship.
Song previously shared her thoughts on social media, saying she believed couples should face difficulties together and that she would continue supporting her husband despite the challenges ahead.
The couple’s story has since attracted widespread attention on Chinese social media, with many users praising Song’s dedication while others debated the effectiveness of her unconventional approach. Many described Zhao as a hero for saving a child’s life and Song as someone who never gave up on bringing him back.
