They appear overcome with emotion and share a kiss, ecstatic to be back in each other’s arms.
This was the touching scene when Wolfram and Anita Gottschalk, the elderly Canadian couple whose tearful goodbye photo pulled heart strings worldwide, were reunited at the same health care facility in Surrey, British Columbia.
Their granddaughter, Ashley Bartyik , announced the happy news Friday on her Facebook page.
“Thursday our family joyfully witnessed the reunification of Wolfram and Anita Gottschalk. Wolfram has finally been moved to the same facility as Anita at the residence at Morgan Heights,” it said.
“The reunion saw tears of joy for all involved. They can now be under the same roof for their remaining years, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
Bartyik’s original photo post of the couple in August — showing their sad goodbye — helped spur the move.
The couple has been married for 62 years, but were placed in separate nursing homes for the better part of a year due to a backlog in the health care system, according to Bartyik.
Every other day, a family member had to drive the 40 minutes so they could see each other. Every time they said goodbye, there were tears.
She pleaded with the community to help speed up the move, especially since her grandfather suffers from dementia. The family feared his memory of Anita would fade faster the longer they were apart.
But on Thursday, those fears subsided.
As Anita reunited with Wolfram — who sat in a wheelchair — she clasped his face.
“Look at me, look at me. I love you,” she said.
