An elderly Canadian couple has finally been reunited after being forced to live in separate nursing homes for more than eight months, according to their granddaughter.
The
reunion, which was filled with "tears of joy," came after Wolfram
Gottschalk, 83, and Anita Gottschalk, 81, were photographed crying in
late August during a visitation a few months after they were first
separated, according to their granddaughter, Ashley Bartyik.
"This is the saddest photo I have ever taken," Bartyik, 29, captioned the photo posted to Facebook.
At the time, Bartyik told ABC News she and her family had been pleading with Fraser Health Authority, which manages the assisted living residences, to allow her grandparents, who had been married for over 62 years, to live together.
Bartyik added that that she was worried her grandparents' heartbreak and stress "could literally kill them."
Fraser Health previously said that it had been working to get the couple together but space was unavailable.
"We certainly understand
how heartbreaking this is for the family," Fraser Health spokeswoman
Tasleem Juma told ABC News partner CTV News at the time. "It’s upsetting
for us as well."
But nearly a
month later -- and after the heartbreaking photo of Wolfram and Anita
had been shared more than 10,000 times on Facebook -- the couple's
wishes have been finally granted, Bartyik announced on social media last
week.
Wolfram was moved into
the same facility as Anita on Thursday, Sept. 22, and the two were
captured smiling, kissing and embracing in heartwarming photos and video
Bartyik posted to Facebook.
The 29-year-old added that though her grandparents were now reunited, "the story isn't over" and that she would continue advocating for other couples separated by the health system in the British Columbia area.
Fraser Health cared "deeply about reuniting couples in long-term care as quickly as possible," Juma told ABC News in a statement today, adding that the health authority was happy to be able to reunite Wolfram and Anita.
Juma explained that
Fraser Health had been working with Bartyik's family "for some time to
ensure we were able to reunite their loved ones as quickly as possible."
She added that health authority had "presented the family with options
for reunification and they chose the option that suited them best until a
bed became available at their preferred site."
"Couple
reunification is a priority for us," she said. "This can sometimes take
longer when individuals need different levels of care, and especially
when families have a preference for a particular site. Still, we do
everything in our power to bring couples together quickly."
Full Article & Source:
Elderly Couple Reunited After Forced to Live in Separate Nursing Homes for Months
2 comments:
The power of social media resulted in pressure to reunite the loving couple, the Gottschalk's.
Job well done! Ashley Bartyik.
This is one of the most heartbreaking stories I have ever read. I still have the image of him sitting alone looking out the window after he was separated from the love of his life-heartbreaking! Media is the reason these two were reunited to put pressure on these facilities to stop separating spouses who age with different illnesses!
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