Man Sacrifices Career to Care For Wife Who’s Been in Vegetative State for Years: ‘Exemplary Love’

A beautiful couple’s life changed forever when Bruna began to seize unexpectedly on a regular night while they watched television. The three-minute event stopped her heart, cutting off all oxygen to her brain. When her husband, David, saw her again, she was not the same person.

When people marry, they promise to love each other “in sickness and in health.” They become a new family that vows to do everything to support one another no matter what comes their way. However, no one walking down the wedding aisle expects to think about illness or emergencies for many years.

Unfortunately, caring for someone is not easy, and many people break their vows when something unexpected happens that changes their entire lives. It can be heartbreaking and awful, but it’s a reality that couples who get married often ignore.

Amazingly, that was not the case for this Brazilian married couple, David César and Bruna de Sousa. However, their lives may never be the same, but her husband hasn’t lost hope in Bruna’s recovery and will fight for her until the very end. Is that the meaning of true love?

In 2019, David César and Bruna de Sousa were watching TV in their home in Maracanaú, Brazil, when she began to seize due to a sudden cardiac arrest. After that, César dedicated his entire life to caring for her, not leaving her side momentarily. However, that choice had several consequences.

He lost his job shortly afterward due to many absences, and there was no way to pay the medical bills as well as their living expenses. Therefore, César shared his story with the world to raise money so they could keep treating De Sousa and give her a better quality of life.

Every day, people read moving stories from around the world where love and friendship have moved mountains and inspired others to help with financial help. However, what truly captured readers and made the story viral was César’s devotion.

When her heart stopped beating, oxygen couldn’t reach her brain correctly, and although they revived her, it was too late. The damage was too significant.

“In a matter of 3 minutes, she lost all vital signs. We ran to the hospital, and after 25 minutes, they managed to revive her, but she’d been without oxygen for a long time,” César explained to Razões para Acreditar.

According to César, his wife suffered from a trauma that doesn’t affect her nervous system, but she can’t move or comprehend what’s happening around her. Unfortunately, she still deals with permanent sequelae from her arrest and lives in a vegetative state, relying on being tube-fed to survive.

Throughout this ordeal, her husband remained by her side, forever hopeful that his wife would eventually get better or have a decent quality of life. After their heartwarming story went viral, he opened an Instagram account to show the world their lives and Bruna’s progress.

In one post from June 29, 2021, César posted a picture hugging his wife on their bed with the caption:

“Unidos eternamente (United forever).”

They currently have over 200 thousand followers on the platform, and their pictures always move people’s heartstrings worldwide. In a video where Bruna is getting physical therapy for her fingers, user aline_isaidel wrote:

“Um amor exemplar 💓! (An exemplary love!).”

Bruna de Sousa spent almost two years in the hospital, accompanied almost constantly by her husband. However, after losing his full-time job, César couldn’t afford their living expenses, much less the special care his wife required.

That’s why he started crowdfunding and eventually collected 28 thousand dollars. The problem is that de Sousa’s monthly expenses keep rising, and his gig as a driver in the town of Maracanaúa is not enough. During his interview with Razões para Acreditar, César added:

“We haven’t achieved her retirement yet. But two volunteer lawyers are helping us. We are living on donations.”

However, there’s a silver lining to their story. After waiting a long time, César discovered a Canadian drug thanks to the help of de Sousa’s neurologists. His wife would have to take for three years and receive physical therapy simultaneously, but the treatment costs around $19,000.

Thankfully, their viral story helped them spread donation pages, including VOOA, where they collected more than they needed. On Instagram, viewers and other potential donors can keep up with de Sousa’s condition and send their love and prayers to the couple.

César tries his best to show his wife on a positive note, inspiring anyone who follows their journey. On a post from October 1, 2022, he added a picture of de Sousa looking chic with a pair of sunglasses in their yard. He typed, “Minha princesa no banho de sol ☀️🤎 (My princess sunbathing).”

Sadly, de Sousa can’t respond to his love, but hopefully, she feels the support and devotion of her husband. Medicine and technology may advance enough to give her and others like her a chance at a better life.

Despite the struggles and the financial strain of Bruna de Sousa’s condition, César remained by her side and still does. It’s real-life proof that true love exists because not many people would be able to fulfill their wedding vows like that.

Comments on Instagram constantly praise David César for his dedication to his wife. On a compilation video from May 4, 2023, user andersonrfreireofficial wrote, “I believe in this love, and this made me cry and motivated.”

Another user wrote, “She’s too beautiful. You guys make a good-looking couple. God is in control of everything.” Someone else added, “My eternal admiration for this beautiful couple. TRUE LOVE.”

It’s hard to say if Bruna de Sousa will get better, but she has a great man as her support system who continues showering her with affection. César took his vows seriously and will probably care for her “until death do them part.”

Click here to read another example of real love as a groom was brought to tears when his paralyzed bride stood up to walk down the aisle.