A woman in China has gone viral after revealing she spent years biting her husband’s toes in an attempt to stimulate his nerves following an accident that left him in a coma.
Zhao Jinqian suffered severe brain injuries and multiple fractures in 2019 when he fell around six metres while rescuing a child trapped on a warehouse roof. Zhao used his own body to shield the child during the fall, leaving the youngster unharmed while he landed headfirst.
Wife spent years biting her husband’s toes
Doctors told Zhao’s family his chances of regaining consciousness were extremely slim, according to the South China Morning Post. His wife, Song Mei, quit her job as a kindergarten art teacher to become his full-time carer, while also selling her paintings online to support the family.
As part of Zhao’s rehabilitation, doctors advised Song to stimulate his fingers and toes to encourage nerve recovery.
She later said she noticed a slight reaction after accidentally biting one of his toes, prompting her to continue the routine for years by covering his foot with a plastic bag before biting his toes.
Song also spent years talking to her husband, massaging his limbs and helping with his rehabilitation as he gradually began showing signs of improvement. He first started opening his eyes in 2024 before continuing to regain limited movement and speech.
According to SCMP, Jingian can now understand speech, raise his hand in response and briefly stand with assistance as his recovery continues.
