‘She still recognized me.’ COVID-19 couldn’t erase 70 years of memories for Columbus couple
A “Parade of Love” on Monday afternoon briefly reunited a Columbus couple married for 70 years who have recently been kept apart by the coronavirus pandemic.
Murray Bradfield, 92, lives in independent living at Covenant Woods. His wife Barbara, 90, is in memory care at Brookdale Columbus. The two have been married for 70 years.
Murray hasn’t been able to visit Barbara in several weeks because of restrictions in place due to COVID-19. He was afraid his wife wouldn’t remember him.
“I was concerned that maybe she might not have remembered me because it’s been a number of weeks since we’ve been able to see her,” Murray said. “She still recognized me, you know that helped a lot...We’ve just been together just about all of our lives and we don’t know what to do when the other half is not around.”
Murray said it was wonderful to visit his wife, even from a distance.
“Had he left Covenant Woods if he came back he would have had to be quarantined, so for us to bring him, he was able to come,” said Nona Christie, marketing person for Covenant Woods.
Anissa McCollum, sales manager at Brookdale Senior Living, said the event was an opportunity for residents and family members to have fun, yet stay safe. They contacted Covenant Woods so Murray could participate.
“During this time when not a lot of positive things are going on, little moments like this help us feel better. It helps families feel better and gives us hope,” McCollum said. “Looking at Murray’s face today, and Barbara’s face today, it makes us all feel better that there is hope at the end of this.”
