A couple, married for 70 years, reunited after staying apart for months due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to CBS affiliate WRGB.
The 91-year-old husband, Walter Willard, and his 89-year-old wife, Jean Willard, finally reunited this week and they could not stop kissing each other.
They have always been in good health but last year, Jean fell and broke her pelvis, according to the couple’s daughters Wendy Willard and Wanda Glenn. Jean also showed some signs of dementia.
After the incident, Jean had to move to the Eddy Memorial Geriatric Center in Troy, New York, which was near to the couple’s house. Walter used to visit her daily until recently when the coronavirus started to spread.
Wendy told WRGB, “My dad would go over there every day and spend most of every day, in the beginning, he was there all day from the morning until night when she went to bed.”
However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the medical center imposed restrictions against visiting to prevent the spread of the virus, especially senior citizens.
Jean used to cry and ask for her husband when he stopped visiting her due to the pandemic, the daughters said. It was not easy for Walter as well. Wendy said, “He went downhill so quickly when he couldn’t see her.”
Walter also suffered a health scare after he fell, which caused a brain bleed, needing surgery and rehabilitation. During such trying times, Wendy and Wanda knew they must find a way to reunite the couple.
Wendy wrote a letter to the head of Eddy Memorial Geriatric Center. She said, “I told him what we were afraid of. We’re afraid we’re going to lose one of them and they’re never going to have seen each other again. And I asked, ‘Is there anything you can do? We’re willing to take the risk, my dad is willing to take the risk.’”
The head of the medical center reconsidered keeping safety restrictions in mind. Wendy said, “He immediately called me and said absolutely we want to do this for you!”
Wendy was relieved and Wanda said she cried all afternoon after getting the news. The couple’s daughters said they are very grateful to the staff members of the nursing home.
Walter and Jean’s emotional reunion was captured on video in which they were seen holding hands, crying, hugging, and kissing. Now, they are sharing a room at the medical center and their kids cannot wait to visit them, according to WRGB.
