This is a good companion piece to the story below.

In a story that stands in stark contrast to the Eluana
Englaro and Terri Schiavo cases in Italy and the United States, a
Chilean man has been visiting his comatose wife for 14 years, and says
he won’t give up on her.

Carlos Abarca has always visited his wife regularly, and now that he
has retired from the national police force, he is able to come three
times a day.  He says that caring for her is his whole life.

“My affection will always be focused on her, I have never doubted
it,” he told the Chilean daily El Mercurio, which broke the story.  “I
don’t seek for more from life than caring for her.  There is nothing
more to do.”

The affection he has for his wife, says Abarca, is “stronger than
ever.  I want to protect her, care for her, make sure she is well, that
she lacks nothing.”

Wow.

His wife has been in a coma since 1995, but Abarca has never lost hope. Or profound love.

“Sometimes when one speaks to her in her ear she begins
to cry, so I have better reason to believe that she can hear.  Sure,
the doctors always contradict it, but I believe that it is to prevent
one from hoping, so that one doesn’t delude one’s self, but I know
better than everyone.”

Abarca says he will continue to love his wife, “until God has the
last word.  In the end, if tomorrow she must go, our conscience will be
clear.”

What amazing grace.