‘Die on the road, not in hospital’: Chinese man takes paralysed wife on epic road trip
A 69-year-old Chinese man has spent a decade traveling across China in a campervan with his partially paralyzed wife. The couple chose this lifestyle to fulfill their retirement dreams rather than remaining in a hospital.
Why it matters
The story highlights the human element of caregiving and the pursuit of quality of life despite severe health challenges.
BEIJING (SCMP): A man from eastern China has spent a decade travelling with his partially paralysed wife, claiming that life on the road has made her “100 times” more spirited.
Liu Peijin, 69, a former serviceman from Weifang in Shandong province, dedicated 18 years to the military, much of that time away from his wife, who was his primary school classmate, as reported by Hongxing News.
As newlyweds, they dreamed of exploring China together in retirement. However, in 2010, complications from diabetes left Liu’s wife partially paralysed.
After repeated hospital stays failed to halt her decline, Liu resolved to fulfil their long-held dream.
“We would rather die on the road than in a hospital bed,” the couple agreed.
Determined to fulfil their youthful dream of exploring China together in retirement, Liu refused to let his wife’s paralysis stop them. -- Photo: Handout / SCMP
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in