An 80-year-old woman’s love letter before a hospital visit proves that true love lasts a lifetime.
Before being hospitalized, an 80-year-old woman in Hanoi left a message for her husband, worried he’d be distressed not seeing her at home.
The note read: “Dear husband, I have a headache and need to go to the hospital for an injection. Please go to sleep. I’ll be home tomorrow morning if I feel better. Your loving wife - Thi Nhan.”
This simple, heartfelt message deeply moved many online after it was shared by their granddaughter, Pham Viet Tra My (born 2003, Hanoi).
The note written by an 80-year-old woman for her husband touched thousands online.
She explained, “My grandfather has dementia. Some days he remembers us, some days he forgets. Sometimes he even confuses day with night. But he never forgets his love for my grandmother.”
“Even when his memory is at its worst, he wakes up at midnight and insists on squeezing fresh orange juice for her. He always holds her hand tightly when they go outside.”
The printed note, Tra My shared, was transcribed exactly from her grandmother’s words and placed on the medicine table to help her grandfather understand while she was away.
It quickly went viral, garnering thousands of likes and emotional comments such as: “This brought tears to my eyes” and “May we all find love like this when we grow old.”
He forgets everything, except his wife
Nearly 60 years together, the couple continues to care for each other tenderly.
The couple in the story are Mr. Pham Van Nhan (born 1942) and Mrs. Nguyen Thi Nhan (born 1947), who have been married for nearly 60 years and live in Hanoi.
They raised four children (three daughters and one son) and built a close-knit family together.
Tra My said the note was printed in early 2025 when her grandmother was hospitalized for an extended period.
Fearing that her husband would be confused or sad without her, she asked her children and grandchildren to help prepare a message in writing.
Recently, while attending her grandmother’s birthday party, My came across the note again and decided to share it as a keepsake.
“I didn’t expect such a simple story to touch so many people,” she said.
“My grandfather forgets what he says just minutes earlier. So we decided to print and laminate the note so that whenever he looks for Grandma, he can read it and feel reassured.”
That note has remained helpful ever since.
Whenever Mrs. Nhan is not home, he carries it around the house - into the kitchen or the living room - always keeping it close.
My shared that this wasn’t the first time her grandparents had communicated through written messages.
When her grandfather was still mentally sharp, the couple often left sweet notes for each other on the backs of torn calendar pages, such as: “I’m going to the temple, wait for me to eat,” or “Don’t forget to take your medicine.”
Now living independently in their own home just a few hundred meters from their children, Mr. Nhan and Mrs. Nhan’s love story has become a cherished family legacy.
My recalled how they fell in love when her grandmother was only 17.
After marriage, Mr. Nhan frequently traveled for work, while his wife stayed behind to raise the children and manage the household.
Through years of devotion and resilience, they achieved their dream of moving the entire family to Hanoi, building stable lives and a warm home.
“Since I was old enough to understand, I’ve always seen Grandma as the most important person in Grandpa’s life,” My said.
When he was still in good health, Mr. Nhan handled all the household chores so his wife could rest or attend temple.
From 2020 onward, his memory began to fade - but his affection for his wife never did.
“I remember clearly, when he came home from the hospital, even though he had no idea who he was or where he was, he said, ‘I need to go pick vegetables and cook for my wife.’ The whole family was deeply moved,” My recalled.
The enduring love between the elderly couple is admired by all their descendants.
Over time, Mr. Nhan’s memory has worsened.
He now only occasionally remembers the names of his children, and rarely recalls the names of his grandchildren.
But he still knows exactly what his wife likes and dislikes.
“One time, he grabbed Grandma’s hand and said, ‘Let’s go home, dear.’ The ‘home’ he spoke of wasn’t their house in Hanoi, but their old countryside home where they weathered tough times together.”
“He forgets our current house, but not the one filled with memories,” My said.
Another time, when Mrs. Nhan had to return to the hospital, Mr. Nhan was so heartbroken he cried, demanding to see her.
“That’s what it’s like when you’ve been together for a lifetime. Just one step apart, and you already miss them,” My added.
Now 78, Mrs. Nhan remains in good health and full of clarity.
Her love shines in the way she cares for her husband - from every meal to his medication, down to the snacks he enjoys.
She often complains to her children, “Your father forgets everything these days,” only to quickly defend him, “But it’s just old age. You have to be patient when he’s difficult.”
“The love they share is truly admirable,” Tra My said. “It’s the kind of deep, enduring affection that only comes after a lifetime together.”
Vietnamnet.vn
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