Granddaughter marries outside nursing home

Granddaughter marries outside nursing home

The coronavirus pandemic is putting a strain on families -- especially those with loved ones in nursing homes.

A wabash valley family may be separated by a window but they are proving -- once again -- they're love is stronger than any virus.

News 10's dominic miranda has continuing coverage of their efforts to stay connected -- now -- for one of life's greatest moments.

Do} grace and hib cook are in their 90's and live at bethesda gardens assisted living facility in terre haute.

I told you last month about how their family has done all they can to keep in contact with them during the covid-19 pandemic.

What started as just talking through windows.... took a jump to a whole new level this past week..... when these two were made a big part of a very special day.

Pk} kristie steinhofer of terre haute tells me her grandparents mean the absolute world to her.

"if you would know my grandparents i think it would be easier to understand.

They absolutely love their grandkids and great grandkids they just beam with pride whenever they talk about us.

And they have always just been the perfect example of love."

That's why kristie and her now husband mark...wanted to get married at bethesda gardens so they could be a part of it.

Not only that....but they wanted to do it on grace and hib cook's 75th wedding anniversary.

The coronavirus threw a wrench in their initial plans...but steinhofer explains how they made it work from outside the facility.

*vo over all of this as she explains* "when we looked in the window... you could see them and they were right up by the window and then we stood right outside that window and they just watched from there and of course my grandma cried several times.

I think it was hard for her not being out there with us.

She was happy for us too.

They could see it then bethesda got a microphone so they could hear it as well."

Some family members watched from their cars while others joined in via zoom.... but what steinhofer says was most important for her.... was making sure her grandparents were still part of this very special day.

"it's really hard for them right now not being able to see us... the family.

You know hug on them and that's been really hard.

I just really wanted it to happen and it didn't matter what the day was like or who could be there or who couldn't... as long as my grandparents were there... we were going to do it on that date."

Do} steinhofer says what topped it all off... was her grandparents were the ones who signed the marriage certificate.

Certainly a bright light amid all this coronavirus sadness that happened right here in terre haute this past week.

Back to you.

Back to you.

Week.

Haute this past here in terre haute this past week.

Back to you.