Joy Latimer, an elderly woman with Alzheimer's disease, and her husband of 67 years, Coy Latimer, have touched hearts worldwide with their emotional reunion at a long-term care facility. Their granddaughter, Ashley Allen, captured the poignant moment on video, which has since gone viral on TikTok, amassing over 2 million views. The touching scene unfolded after the couple had been separated for two weeks due to Coy Latimer's recovery from a fall.
Upon arriving at the facility, Coy Latimer experienced a wave of nervousness reminiscent of a first date. As he approached his wife's room, Joy initially did not notice him. However, when she eventually recognized him, she buried her face in her hands, overwhelmed with emotion. The couple then burst into tears, a testament to their enduring bond despite the challenges posed by Joy's memory loss.
"They have been living together alone and taking care of each other, but my grandmother has very advanced Alzheimer's and my granddad has very advanced COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]." – Allen
Coy Latimer has consistently visited Joy with treats from Dairy Queen, a tradition he has maintained throughout their years together. This small act of love underscores his commitment to bringing joy to his wife in any way he can. The couple's separation was due to the difficult decision to move Joy into a memory care facility, while Coy recuperated at home.
"After making the hard decision that my grandmother needed to go to a long-term memory care facility, my granddad did not get to see her for a couple weeks while he was also healing from a fall," – Allen
Their granddaughter, Ashley Allen, shared the heartwarming reunion on "Good Morning America," expressing her joy at witnessing such a moving moment between her grandparents. The video not only highlights the power of love but also serves as a reminder of the emotional complexities faced by families dealing with Alzheimer's and other age-related ailments.
"He is so happy to know she is safe and doing well." – Allen
