In October this year, we reported the story of Ding Ying’s unwavering care for Jiang Li. Last July, Jiang Li, a young man from Zhenjiang, was involved in a car accident and fell into a vegetative state. His wife, Ding Ying, never gave up; over six months, she used her love to help him regain consciousness. Throughout the past year, while caring for her husband, Ding Ying also shared their story online, inspiring countless others. At the end of the year, good news arrived: Jiang Li has made a remarkable recovery and was discharged from the hospital on December 29.

　　After a year and a half in the hospital, Jiang Li was finally able to be discharged and return home.

　　Pan Xingming, deputy director of Ward 102 at Nanjing Zijin Hospital, said: “The patient’s level of consciousness has improved, and with family assistance, he is now able to walk safely both indoors and outdoors. Despite his young age, there is still room for further progress following active rehabilitation therapy.”

　　In July 2020, Jiang Li was involved in a car accident. After emergency treatment, he was saved, but subsequently fell into a vegetative state that lasted six months. During this time, his wife, Ding Ying, remained by his side.

　　From a vegetative state to full consciousness and cognition, Jiang Li can now not only walk but also sing. Over the past year and a half, Ding Ying has spent her days by her husband’s side throughout his treatment and her evenings poring over medical literature, filling notebook after notebook with rehabilitation notes. Her doctors say she could almost be considered a half‑therapist herself.

　　Ding Ying said, “Whenever I don’t understand something, I ask; then I look up those technical terms online. At night, once he’s asleep, I start thinking about what alternative approach to try tomorrow to make things better.”

　　Starting in February this year, Ding Ying began documenting every small step of Jiang Li’s recovery online and also created a support group for families of patients with traumatic brain injuries. In just over half a year, her following has grown to nearly 800,000.

　　In the new year, Ding Ying will once again stand by her husband as he embarks on a fresh journey of recovery. The story of “guarding love” is far from over.