It’s not unusual, in the face of death, for people to have a dying wish. In some cases, it’s a last meal or knocking one last thing off their bucket list. Alternatively, in a heartwarming story about a man from China his final request was to have his wife by his side.
A Heartfelt Dying Wish
In 2016, a man surnamed Feng from Ningbo City found out he was terminally ill. Instead of continuing treatment, he opted to “die peacefully at home”. His children began the paperwork, and the hospital was set to discharge him. Yet, he suddenly had a change of heart. ‘I have not seen my wife for a long time. I miss her.’ Said Feng.
At 92 years old, and refusing to continue treatment, there was nothing left for medical professionals to do except help the man achieve his dying wish, to see his wife one last time.
The man and his wife had shared a 66-year marriage prior to both being treated for various medical concerns at Yingzhou People’s Hospital in Ningbo. Feng suffered from heart disease and Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome. Meanwhile, his wife was being treated for “bone fractures”.
Seemingly, being treated at the same hospital and around the same time, may have made it easier for medical staff to help Feng get his dying wish.
Both individuals had become bed bound. As a result, they hadn’t seen each other in over a month before he made his dying wish known. A nurse captured a picture of Feng and his wife lovingly holding hands side by side. The photo went viral among Chinese social media accounts and captured the hearts of millions.
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A Dying Wish Rooted in Love
Incredibly, Feng held on long enough to see his dying wish come to fruition and passed away just 2 hours after the reunion.
This captivating story is, at the very least, a reminder that love is a powerful force. In fact, more often than not, someone’s dying wish relates to their favorite people or animals. However, many people have a dying wish and medical professionals everywhere often can help their patients achieve their dying wish.
Here are some other examples of heartwarming stories in which people expressed their dying wish. Some wanted to be close to those they loved or to leave behind an abundance of love for those they love to discover. For example, a 6-year-old named Elena was diagnosed with brain cancer and began hiding notes for her parents in their home to find after she was gone.
Meanwhile, another child, a 7-year-old boy, opted to let go in the hopes that his mother could have his kidney. In turn, saving her life.
Furthermore, some elderly people have been known to request a final visit with their beloved cats, dogs, or horses. And to accomplish another man’s dying wish, a giraffe was brought to him to say goodbye. He had been responsible for cleaning the enclosure at the Rotterdam Zoo and developed a connection with the animals.
Read: Couple Married For 62 Years Passes Away Just 90 Min Apart Holding Hands Till Their Last Breath
A Unique Request
Although most people have a dying wish that involves being surrounded by the people, animals, or places they loved, others have much less conventional requests. One such example was a 12-year-old boy’s request for a colorful tattoo with markers. A tattoo artist obliged and gave him a vibrant sleeve depicting a skull and some colorful foliage.
For others, a dying wish consisted of finding a new home for their pets or a new family for their children. Most likely, looking for assurance that their most precious “possessions” will be well loved long after the parent is gone.
Death is never an easy topic for anyone to address. Moreover, it causes a lot of unanswered questions because no one really knows what happens when one dies. Therefore, touching moments in which people come together to make a dying wish come true are essential for the people on their deathbed and those who love them the most. It gives them one last happy and wholesome moment to hold onto when the pain of loss becomes seemingly unbearable.
Keep Reading: Foster Child’s Wishlist To His Parents Who Adopted Him Is Heart Wrenching
Sources
- “72 People’s Last Wishes That Will Make You Cry.” Bored Panda. Marija Bern. March 20, 2017.
- “To have and to hold: Tear-jerking moment dying man, 92, is granted his last wish to hold hands with his wife of 66 years as the couple meet for the last time two hours before he dies.” Daily Mail. Tracy You. December 28, 2016.