• A young woman with advanced kidney failure married a man battling cancer as part of a medical arrangement to receive his kidney after his death, but their relationship later developed into genuine love

• She supported her husband through his treatment, and as their health situations improved, the initial agreement evolved into an inspiring human story filled with hope

A young woman with advanced kidney failure in northwestern China married a man suffering from cancer under an arrangement to receive his kidney after his death.

Over time, the relationship grew into true love.

Chinese media reported that 24-year-old Wang Xiao from Shaanxi province was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure and told she had roughly a year to live without a transplant. With no suitable donor among her relatives, she posted a marriage ad in a cancer patient support group seeking a terminally ill man whose kidney she could receive after his death.

In her ad, Wang wrote: "I will take the best care of you after marriage. Please forgive me; all I want is to live."

A 27-year-old man, Yu Zhenping, who was battling recurring cancer and had a compatible blood type, responded. The couple quietly registered their marriage in 2013, agreeing that Wang would provide long-term care in exchange for his kidney after his death.

Over time, their arrangement developed into genuine affection. Wang supported Yu through his treatment and sold handmade bouquets to help cover his medical expenses, gradually turning their relationship into a true romance.

By mid-2014, Yu’s health had stabilized, and Wang’s need for dialysis decreased. Eventually, he proposed love sincerely, moving beyond the initial medical arrangement.

The couple’s story has resurfaced online, praised as a rare example of hope, selflessness, and human connection emerging from what was originally seen as a purely transactional agreement. It also raises ethical questions about medical arrangements, organ donation, and the nature of marriage.