Lying in her hospital bed at Nanjing Zijin Hospital, elderly Ms. Zhou Fulan saw Dr. Gao Jirong and the head nurse making their rounds. She greeted them with a salute and a deep bow, looking both endearing and mischievous.

　　Little did she know that she had been in a coma for more than forty days. Her eldest son, Sun Biao, now 61, has remained by her side the entire time. Overwhelmed by anxiety and exhaustion, he nearly broke under the strain—yet when he finally saw his mother awaken, tears streamed down his face.

　　One morning in April, Zhou Fulan, who was approaching 80 years old, returned to bed after using the restroom when she suddenly began convulsing and foaming at the mouth. Her family called 120, and she was rushed to the Nanjing Military Region General Hospital for treatment. After examination, she was diagnosed with a posterior communicating artery aneurysm of the right internal carotid artery. During a discussion with her family, the doctor warned, “The prognosis is poor—she may become paralyzed or lapse into a permanent vegetative state.” Sun Biao stared at the critical‑condition notice, tears welling up and spilling onto the page. “Doctor, please save my mother—just as long as she’s alive!”

　　Following carotid artery aneurysm embolization, Zhou Fulan remained unconscious. After more than 20 days of hospitalization, the physicians recommended transferring him to the China Brain Resuscitation Center at Nanjing Zijin Hospital for efforts to restore consciousness.

　　According to the Chinese/Nanjing PVS efficacy scoring scale, which has a maximum score of 20, Zhou Fulan’s score was 8 upon admission. President Wang Peidong of Zijin Hospital and Director Zhang Xuzhong of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Department personally attended the medical team’s consultation to develop a treatment plan. The primary therapies were hyperbaric oxygen therapy and electrical stimulation. On the third day, after completing her hyperbaric oxygen session and stepping out of the chamber, her eldest son tried calling her: “Mom, if you can hear me, please blink once.” To everyone’s delight, she indeed blinked—what might seem like an insignificant gesture to most people brought hope to Zhou Fulan’s family.

　　On the afternoon of May 21, Zhou Fulan was able to speak and perform simple movements. Her family tried helping her get out of bed and walk, and during rounds, the doctors assessed her condition, assigning a score of 16. Her eldest son was overjoyed; he broke into a jog and rushed to the hospital director’s office, exclaiming, “Director, I’m so thrilled—my mother has truly awakened. I’ve always been loud and not very kind to the doctors and nurses, and I feel deeply remorseful. Please commend and reward the doctors, nurses, and the rehabilitation team—they’re outstanding, provide excellent care, and I couldn’t be more satisfied.”

　　Zhou Fulan looked at her family, tears welling in her eyes. “I can’t leave—I want to stay by my husband’s side and watch my great-grandchildren grow up.”