NURSING HOME REUNION PKG

NURSING HOME REUNION PKG

After nearly a year...the state finally eased visitor restrictions on some nursing homes.

For months and months families had been finding creative ways to try to spend a special moment with loved ones...literally tens of thousands of people were impacted...that has made the easing of some limits all the more important... now...abc 36's bobbi mcswine tells us one of those special reunions between a mother and daughter.

######### ###### "it is great to be back - to be able to hold her hand and give her a hug.

It's really great."

Rhonda brashear says she missed moments like this with her mom.

"it's been hard.

It's been really.

Hard.

Just the separation and walls that's put up by covid that's robbed so many people."

"it makes me feel good that they can come back to visit me."

Brashear's mom...josephine engle...and her dad, clarence...came to morning pointe of richmond in december of 2019.

Less than four months later covid changed everyone's world.

"we were locked out.

We couldn't visit them.

We had to go to the window."

They both caught the coronavirus about a year later...and clarence died.

"i was in tears.

I miss him so much.

I had a good husband.

The best.

And i've got the best family too."

Described by family...and staff as fun- loving...clarence's memory won't be forgotten.

Brashear says morning pointe has been good to them both...and while wearing a bunch of protective gear...even allowed her to see her father in his final hours.

"most families don't do that.

They can't do that.

I've seen news stories where families had to say goodbye on facetime or on the phone."

Now that they're finally reunited...breshear says she's not letting a moment pass.

"her birthday is this coming monday and we're going to celebrate that with her."

Engle will be 83 years old... "i'm just thankful that i'm having another birthday."

Brashear says she always knew time was precious...but now... "we want to make her life special and everyday just make it enjoyable and fulfilling."

In richmond...bobbi mcswine...abc 36 news.

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