Zhao Guihua of E'zhou in Hubei province lapsed into a coma three decades ago after an accident. After two operations, her husband, Chen Dulin, took over and cared for her the rest of the way, the China Daily reported.

Then, quite unexpectedly, she woke up. Doctors say Zhao's blood pressure and heart and lungs are stable.

Chen is now 77 and recently was selected as one of the province's model husbands. And he's still talking every day to the love of his life.