In sickness and in health, till death do us part

Five months after they married in 1958, she was paralyzed and became unable to have children. Ever since, he has taken care of her. 56 years have passed. He is now an 84 year-old man, but they are still together and deeply in love.

In November 1958, Du Yuanfa married a girl named Zhou Yuai in a village in eastern China’s Shandong Province. Five months later, when Du was at work, he was informed that his wife had suddenly become paralyzed. He took her many hospitals for treatment. However, all the doctors said that Zhou could not be cured, and would also be unable to have children.

Du never left his wife’s side. He resigned his job and started to take care of Zhou full time. Every time he hears about a folk remedy for a disease like his wife’s, he always first tastes the medicine himself in case of poisoning. He wipes her body every day during summers, and always keeps her warm during winters. For 56 years, Du has never stopped caring.

Their story has touched many people in the village. The local government has also offered a lot of help to assist with their daily life.