A deeply moving photograph of an elderly Chinese couple, married for nearly seven decades, holding hands in the intensive care unit has gone viral, capturing hearts around the world.
The image was shared by Wang Yanfang, head nurse at the ICU of Yinzhou Hospital in Zhejiang Province, eastern China, according to New China.
The husband, 92-year-old Feng Ming, had been admitted to the ICU due to heart failure. Unfortunately, his condition worsened, leading to multiple organ failures and a lung infection. Eventually, he was unable to speak and was kept alive on a life support machine.
Realizing that his time was short, Feng’s family made the decision to cease medical interventions and bring him home. However, Feng had one final wish: to see his wife, to whom he had been married for 66 years.
His wife, Zhang Ping, aged 95, was also in the hospital on a different floor, receiving treatment for a fractured femur.
“The visiting hour of the ICU is from 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm, but Feng’s condition was too severe to wait until then,” Wang told New China. Recognizing the urgency, Wang made a special exception to fulfill Feng’s last wish.
Zhang was transported on a stretcher from her room on the 14th floor to the ICU on the third floor. There, the couple reunited for what would likely be their final moments together.
Till death do us part: Nonagenarian Chinese couple hand in hand just hours before husband dies in ICU https://t.co/MpdhHUn4OO pic.twitter.com/V8z2Abp4q2
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) January 5, 2017
Wang described the poignant scene: Zhang reached out, held Feng’s hand, and softly reassured him in their local dialect, saying, “Don’t worry about me. Rest assured that I can take good care of myself.”
Feng was brought to tears by her words. He later passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, just a few hours after their emotional goodbye.
Reflecting on the decision to allow the meeting, Wang said, “We made an exception for the elderly couple to meet so that this touching moment could happen and be preserved. I am grateful we made the right choice.”
This story is both heart-wrenching and heartwarming. It’s comforting to know that Feng and Zhang shared a lifetime of love and devotion, standing by each other through thick and thin. Their bond, unbroken even in their final moments, is a testament to what true love really means.