Let’s a take a moment and try defining the word “mother.” It seems impossible to whittle the definition down to one word or phrase. Being a mother means so much more than someone who gives birth to children. There are countless feelings and behaviors and sacrifices that go into motherhood.
American novelist, essayist and poet, Barbara Kingsolver, puts it beautifully: “Sometimes the strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.” (1)
And we couldn’t agree more, which is why we needed to share this heartwarming story with you.
The Power of a Mother’s Love
Back in 2006, then-36-year-old Wang Shubao got into a devastating car crash in Shandong province, China. The near-fatal accident left him quadriplegic and in a coma – for the last 12 years. It’s hard to imagine what a mother would do or how she would cope after being dealt such a life-altering hand.
What’s worse, Wang’s father passed away when he was young. But his 75-year-old mother, Wei Mingying, never abandoned him for a second. In fact, she literally did the opposite.
For over a decade, Mingying has never left his bedside. Every morning, she has woken up at 5 a.m. to wash her son’s face, bathe him, feed him, take care of his toilet needs, as well as reposition him and massage his body to prevent bed sores and muscle atrophy. (2)
As you can imagine, this has been a medical journey that has eaten through Minying’s life savings and put her over $16,600 in debt. (3) That takes a toll on a person’s life, but she never ever complained.
“There was a time when I wouldn’t eat for an entire month because we were so poor,” Mingying told Beijing News. (4) “My mouth, my tongue was all dry. I would just drink water.”
Love Is Patient
When life is full of struggles, they can seem hopeless or impossible to overcome. But in October 2018, Mingying experienced a miracle – after 12 long years.
She caught her son smiling at her, which she took a sign that he had finally regained consciousness. Although Wang still lacks the ability to move or speak, the fact that he can hear his mother and smile in response is something she never expected.
“I am just overjoyed. I hope he will make a full recovery. I will never give up on him. I hope he can call me ‘mom’ against on day.”
It’s possible that this is the only improvement Wang will make. But that’s not the important thing here. While it would be incredible for him to one day regain some movement and speech, we must acknowledge the power of a mother’s unconditional love. It’s the kind that cannot be matched.
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