A 77-YEAR-OLD critically ill woman surnamed Peng was granted her wish of holding hands with her dying 84-year-old husband in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, bringing many to tears, the Daily Sunshine reported.

Peng was taken to the hospital July 8 after suffering a sudden cerebellar hemorrhage. Luckily, with treatment she was gradually able to recover.

However, her husband, surnamed Gao, suffered a heart attack July 17. Gao was brought to the ICU at the same hospital.

Doctors at the hospital told the couple’s daughter that Gao might not regain consciousness and he was given only days to live due to the fact that his heart had stopped beating for a long period of time.

On July 27, Peng regained consciousness from her coma and was informed of her husband’s serious situation. After learning this, Peng begged the medics to take her to her husband’s ward to see him for the last time.

After checking Peng’s condition, the doctors permitted her wish. Peng was then transported to her husband’s ward by the hospital’s staff.

Upon meeting her husband, Peng held Gao’s hands tightly and tried to wake him up by repeatedly calling him by his nickname, and then she just lay down on the bed and quietly stared at her husband.

Considering Peng’s situation, the couple was allowed to stay together in the ICU for about five minutes.

Peng and Gao have been married for 57 years, according to the report.

The medical personnel and the couple’s family members were moved to tears while witnessing the poignant reunion.

The picture has been posted on the hospital’s Weibo account, a Twitter-like social media platform, gaining tens of thousands of views.

“This is what I think is the best love,” said one Weibo user.

(Wang Jingli)