0:25
- ABC News
- September 27, 2016
Elderly Couple Reunited After Forced to Live Apart for Months
The two were captured crying over the separation in late August.
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.
\"They can now be under the same roof for their remaining years, and we couldn’t be more grateful,\" Bartyik wrote in her post on Facebook. \"They would like to thank Fraser Health for this reunion, and also the media for helping to get their story heard. They also wish to thank everyone around the world that liked, shared, or discussed their story.\"
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.\"
Bartyik did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for additional comment today.
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