text: A remarkable farming couple  have devoted their lives to adopting disabled orphans - taking in more than 40 children over the last 26 years. Tianwen Chen, 65, and his wife Gairen Guo, 60, found their first child in a box on the roadside and gradually took  more and more disabled children into their two-bedroom home in rural Shanxi province, central China. But the couple have faced a great deal of heartache over the years, and are only now living comfortably with 12 of the children with the help of donations by kind-hearted people, according to the People's Daily Online. Big family: Tianwen Chen and his wife Gairen Guo have adopted 40 disabled children over the past 26 years. Nine of the children can be seen here, enjoying a family meal together . Working hard: The Chens can now afford to send their children to school, but it hasn't always been this way . The couple, who live outside of Yuanping city, found their first child - a baby girl -  on the side of the road one day in 1989 and carried her home, despite not having much to live on themselves. Tianwen said he immediately felt an emotional connection with the child: 'This baby girl was in a cardboard box. She was so tiny and skinny. Both of her legs were weird and you could tell at first glance that she was disabled.' 'When I saw this baby girl, I felt like I had been through the same things.’ Difficult life: All of the  children were disabled and many had been abandoned by their biological parents . Devoted: Tianwen says he was desperate to help  and began to take more and more children into their home . Ever-growing: The couple said that even the local authorities began sending children to their home . He suffers from a genetic eye condition, and says that this made him desperately want to help disabled children. Eventually, nearly 20  children were sleeping on the floor in their 20 square metre farmhouse. The couple themselves had barely any space to lie down. They would take it in turn to wake up three or four times every night to feed the babies and change their nappies. The couple did not even have a washing machine, and Gairen was forced her laundry in icy water that was often -20 degrees Celsius. Even the local authorities began to send disabled children to the Chens, but unfortunately the government subsidy for foster parents only covered the cost of milk powder. The couple gradually used up all their savings, making them fear for the future of their children. Caring: Tianwen, feeding one of the babies above, found a baby girl in a box on the side of the road . Grief: Sadly nine of the children died. The parents still visit their tombs to carry out religious rituals . The children needed constant medical treatment, which became extremely expensive. The couple went with various children to the doctor twice a week and every day during flu season. The healthiest child had a cleft lip and palate. Sadly, nine of the children died and another 12 were adopted by other families. None of their neighbours were willing to help and it became too much for the eldest son - who decided to get up and leave. But a short online film telling the story of the Chens has changed their lives forever. The documentary called 'Fading flowers’ gained a huge amount of support and nearly £14,000 was raised to buy the family a new 500 square metre home. The children have also been able to receive proper medical treatment, and five of them have had their disabilities corrected. Today, the couple have 12 children living with them - the eldest is 16, and the youngest is 6. Gairen said it's all been worth it: 'As long as we live, we will care for the children.’ Happier times: 12  children still live with the couple and can now receive proper treatment due to generous donations from the public . New home: A short film telling the family's story received tremendous support online, raising £14,000 . Good education: The couple still hope to send the children to school in the city .
target: Tianwen Chen and wife found a baby girl in a box by the road in 1989 .
  They carried her home, even though they had little money to live off .
  Since then they have adopted more and more disabled children .
  Sadly nine of the children died and the couple soon used up their savings .
  Donations from the public mean they now have a brand new home .