'Til death do us part'

Chinese netizens were recently deeply touched by an old couple holding hands in a hospital ICU, unwilling to separate after they have been married for 57 years.

The couple in their 70’s and 80’s were sent to the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital a few weeks ago, and should have been separated for their different medial treatment.

The wife, surnamed Peng, was sent to hospital on July 8 because of cerebral hemorrhage. She regained consciousness on July 27, only to learn her husband has also fallen into a severe illness.

Surnamed Gao, the husband had been taking care of Peng and was sent to the ICU in the same hospital as his wife after he suffered from an acute myocardial infarction on July 17.

Unable to maintain breathing independently, he had been kept stable with a resporator, but his condition continued to slowly get worse.

When his wife discovered his condition, Gao was still unconscious.

“I tried to tell her the truth about my father on the afternoon of July 27 - about how he has been unconscious for over 10 days in the hospital, and how he may not get through this time,” their daughter said.

Peng then decided to see her husband for what could have been the last time, despite being extremely weak herself.

Staff at the hospital agreed to help after making an assessment of her health conditions.

She was sent to the ICU where Gao was staying on the evening of July 27, accompanied by members of staff and her family.

Although Peng kept calling her husband, he was unable to reply.

“My father was in a coma and didn’t know my mother was nearby,” said the daughter, “My mother also held the hand of my father. The total length of their was less than ten minutes.”

The daughter later expressed her gratitude to the hospital because she had a feeling it could be their last chance to see each other.

Many netizens were deeply moved after they heard the story, saying this is the kind of love they have always admired.