Husband surprises wife on 84th birthday after leaving Minnesota nursing home in COVID-19 lockdown
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Jerry Lindell was rehabbing at a Minnesota nursing home when the facility locked down to protect its residents from the coronavirus -- blocking his wife of 63 years from visiting, according to a local report.
But he finished his rehab in time to surprise her on her 84th birthday last Thursday, heartwarming video shows.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“Hi honey,” a surprised Beverley Lindell exclaims as her husband, also 84, strides through their front door with a bouquet of flowers, as seen in cellphone video their daughter, Loriee Barnes, recorded.
Courtesy: Loriee Barnes
“Happy birthday honey,” he responds.
At first, she appears hesitant to give him a hug, raising social distancing concerns, but as soon as he is within reach they enter into a warm embrace.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“I can’t hug you,” she says.
“Why can’t you?” he replies, taking her into his arms as she begins to cry tears of joy.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Barnes said she helped arrange the surprise in a Facebook post.
“We have had a rough year, but I brought my dad home from the nursing home for my mom’s birthday present,” she wrote. “Life is so awesome.”
Jerry Lindell was a patient at Meeker Manor Rehabilitation Center in Litchfield, Minn., when the facility went into lockdown to protect its residents from the threat of the coronavirus, according to KARE-TV.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Andrea Ross, the nursing home’s administrator, told the station that seeing the couple reunite on video meant a lot to her, her staff and other residents enduring separation from their own families amid the shutdown.
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Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz issued a stay-at-home order on March 25 and has signed a $330 million COVID-19 response package as just part of the state’s attempts to slow the spread of the virus.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Minnesota had seen at least 789 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, with at least 22 deaths as of Friday afternoon.