A woman in China has touched hearts after spending 17 years caring for her comatose daughter-in-law.
Cover image via Douyin
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A 68-year-old woman has been caring for her comatose daughter-in-law for 17 years
When a 2009 truck accident left a young bride in a vegetative state, her husband's family could have walked away.
Instead, Xuan Fengying stepped in, dedicating almost two decades to caring for her daughter-in-law in their village in Shandong province.
"She married my son, so she's my child. How could I abandon her?" Xuan said, according to the South China Morning Post.
The younger woman, surnamed Xu, required a gruelling care routine.
Xuan spent an hour per meal feeding Xu and turned her regularly to prevent bedsores
She also stimulated Xu's mind by playing her favourite songs, calling her name, and sharing local village news.
Against all odds, Xu miraculously emerged from her vegetative state several years ago.
While brain damage left Xu with the cognitive abilities of a 4-year-old, Xuan continues to guide her rehabilitation.
Thanks to this persistence, Xu has relearned to walk, speak simple words, and cook basic meals
A viral video recently captured the touching bond between the two, showing Xu saying, "Mum, good."
Xuan, who battles high blood pressure, hopes these life skills will prepare Xu for the future.
"I have no other wish than for her to keep getting better. I feel a little relieved that she can cook. That way, after I [die], she'll still have something to eat," Xuan said.
"I told my son that if I [die], he should keep caring for his wife," Xuan added.
"Of course I envy other people's leisurely lives. They can go dancing in the squares. But my responsibility is to care for my daughter-in-law," she said.
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