LAKELAND, Fla. — Sam and JoAnn Reck spent nearly every day of their 30-year marriage together.
Now, the Lakeland couple has lost both of their battles with COVID-19.
JoAnn lived at Porter McGrath to receive treatment for dementia,
while Sam lived next door at Florida Presbyterian Homes in an apartment
they used to share. But when the coronavirus pandemic began, visits to senior care homes were restricted.
JoAnn ended up testing positive for coronavirus, and her condition quickly deteriorated. Sam said he needed to find a way to see his wife in person to say a final goodbye.
The couple and their family had to get creative to keep the visits
going. That included JoAnn using her walker to visit Sam on the balcony
of their apartment, having chats through Amazon's Alexa and video
messages.
JoAnn ended up testing positive for coronavirus, and her condition quickly deteriorated. Sam said he needed to find a way to see his wife in person to say a final goodbye.
"I told Sam that I did not want him to go because he was a
90-year-old man and he's basically walking into a den of lions, 'cause
that's a COVID room," JoAnn's son from her first marriage, Scott Hooper,
said. "At first, he agreed, but then he later said 'Scott, I have to
go, I have to go see your mom'."
Sam went to the Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. His family
shared a video of his goodbye to JoAnn. You can hear Sam, clad in PPE,
say:
"I'm finally getting to hold your hand after all these months," as he gave JoAnn's hand a squeeze.
"Hi honey, hi darling, yeah it's Sam. You don't recognize me with all this junk on my face."
And, "I love you, sweetheart. I love you so much."
JoAnn, 86, died a few days later on July 12, 2020. Now three weeks
later, family says Sam, 90, has also died of coronavirus, according to The Ledger and JoAnn's son, Scott.
In a Facebook post, Hooper says "After
Sam tested positive for COVID, I asked him if he regretted his visit to
the hospital. Without pause he replied, ‘Not one second.’ He said no
matter what happens, he was very happy he had the opportunity to say
goodbye and hold her hand one more time.”
Family members tell The Ledger both Sam and JoAnn's cremated remains will be buried together in a memorial garden at Florida Presbyterian Homes.
Family members tell The Ledger both Sam and JoAnn's cremated remains will be buried together in a memorial garden at Florida Presbyterian Homes.
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| Sam & JoAnn |
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Lakeland man who visited wife for last goodbye dies of coronavirus
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