A bride from eastern China slipped into a coma after a botched cold treatment, but she awoke and smiled at her fiancé just two days before her wedding.
Wang Ranran, 24, from Taian in Shandong province, had been in a six-year relationship with her fiancé, Zhang Xirui.
After registering their marriage at the end of last year, they eagerly planned their wedding for April 25, securing a popular emcee and hotel well in advance.
But a simple cold treatment changed their lives forever.
In January, Wang felt a sore throat and assumed it was just a cold, so she and Zhang visited a nearby clinic, Daiyue Jin Medical Hall, which, though small, had a solid reputation.
Zhang recalled that two doctors were on duty. After a brief consultation, one woman prescribed medication and administered an injection.
“At no point did they ask if Wang had any drug allergies, nor did they conduct a skin test,” Zhang told Hongxing News.
Just minutes after the injection, Wang began feeling unwell: her tongue went numb, she started vomiting and struggled to breathe.
As her condition worsened, Zhang called for an ambulance, but by the time paramedics arrived, Wang had gone into shock.
“During this time, the clinic’s doctors were flustered and took no effective emergency measures,” Zhang said.
At the hospital, doctors initially diagnosed Wang with acidosis and respiratory failure, likely caused by an allergic shock.
Despite treatment, her brain was deprived of oxygen for over four minutes, resulting in irreversible damage.
Zhang reported the clinic for malpractice and sought legal help.
An investigation revealed that the woman who administered the injection was non-medical staff, and the doctor who signed the prescription was not qualified to practise medicine.
By April, the clinic had closed, and the woman paid Wang’s family 200,000 yuan (US$30,000) in compensation before disappearing.
Zhang said: “My fiancé is still in a coma, and the medical bills have already exceeded 700,000 yuan (US$100,000). Now, we are taking turns caring for her, which prevents us from working. It is incredibly difficult.”
After 92 days in a coma, Wang showed the first signs of awareness, bringing hope to her family.
On April 23, she opened her eyes and smiled at Zhang, although she had not yet regained the ability to speak or move.
With tears in his eyes, Zhang told the media: “Her beautiful eyes finally have life in them.”
“Once you slip into your wedding dress, I will be there to marry you,” he told her.
As the case is still under evaluation, the compensation amount and legal verdict have not yet been finalised.
The story has deeply resonated with many people on mainland social media.
One online user said: “Wang knew her wedding was just days away, so she woke up. Stay strong, beautiful bride.”
“I hope the authorities find the missing clinic doctors. We must not allow these morally corrupt ‘doctors’ to harm others,” said another. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
