Nothing can keep Rosa and Wayne Elliott separated – not even the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Edgewater couple was treated for the virus at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center this month. Rosa, 90, was admitted on Jan. 11. Wayne, 89, was admitted four days later.
But that didn’t stop date night for the Elliotts, who have been married for 71 years. They were on the same unit, so LHAAMC staff brought them together for each meal so they could still spend time together, hand in hand.
“Although bringing someone down the hall for meals seems simple, the impact it made for not just the patients, but the staff who care for them was uplifting,” says Justin Bowser, clinical nursing director of LHAAMC’s medical surgical unit, neurological care unit and inpatient wound/ostomy department.
Together, the Elliotts have lived an exciting life.
Wayne served in the U.S. Navy, where he lost an eye. But that hasn’t kept him from winning several awards for competitive shooting. The retired employee of the state prison system is a master carpenter and lover of woodworking, and he fixes up and shoots muzzleloaders in his spare time.
Rosa was the one who asked Wayne out for their first date all those years ago. A retired bank employee, she traveled all over the world with her husband when they were younger.
“We have seen a great deal of sadness, grief, loss during this pandemic. What we try to remember most are the positive memories, the memories where we make an impact on someone’s life,” Justin says. “This love story is a prime example of a positive memory we can cherish.”
The Elliotts were discharged from LHAAMC last week and are now recovering at home.
