Elderly Lady Gets Hospitalized, Meets a Nurse Who Has Her Father's Eyes

When an older woman became unwell and found herself in the hospital, she never expected to run into a familiar face, at least not until she saw a pair of eyes like her father's.

Ever since COVID-19 hit the world, our lives have never been the same. It's been more than two years since we've been trying to acclimate to the new normal, and yet, many of us still struggle with embracing the uncertainty and danger looming ahead.

One might feel that social distancing and quarantine regimes have led to people drifting apart and falling out of touch. However, the coronavirus pandemic emerged as a beacon of hope, light, and love for two women.

FEELING UNWELL

It all began in 2020 when Doris Crippen fell ill at her Omaha apartment in Nebraska. Initially, she thought she had flu and would feel better after resting for some time.

She lay in bed for several days, feeling exhausted and weaker with each passing day. But, Crippen, 73, reached a point where she barely had the energy to move.

A SUDDEN FALL

One day in May 2020, she suffered a fall while reaching out for a glass of water. She tumbled from her bed to the floor and lay helpless for more than 24 hours as she lived alone and could not reach her phone to call for help. Her son Chad eventually dropped by and took her to the hospital.

While at the hospital, Crippen learned that she had a broken arm and tested positive for COVID-19. She spent more than a month recovering at Nebraska Medicine, where Crippen said she wasn't sure if she would survive.

Here's another story that you might like, and it's about two sisters who didn't know about each other for four decades until they discovered one day they were living only two blocks apart.

AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE

After testing negative for the virus, Crippen was discharged and sent to the Dunklau Gardens rehabilitation center and nursing home in Fremont, Nebraska. It was there that she would soon encounter a heartwarming surprise.

Bev Boro, 53, had been a medication aide at Dunklau Gardens in Fremont for 22 years. So, when she saw Crippen's name on the patient board, she instantly recognized it and couldn't contain her excitement. Boro recalled:

"I couldn't believe it. I thought, 'Oh my God, I think this is my sister.'"

PLACED IN FOSTER CARE

The two women shared the same father but were born to different mothers. Their father remarried three times and had ten children. Crippen was the oldest, while Boro was the youngest of the brood. Crippen was 20 years old the last time she saw Boro.

When Boro was six months old, the state of Nebraska deemed her parents unfit to care for her and her three siblings, who then entered foster care and were separately placed for adoption. On the other hand, Crippen was raised by her mother and stepfather.

A MOMENT OF REALIZATION

The two sisters grew up in Nebraska and knew one another, but they hadn't seen each other in 53 years. Once the nervousness subsided, Boro knew she had to meet her sister in person and share the wonderful news.

Soon afterward, Boro went to Crippen's room with a whiteboard on which she wrote their late father's name, "Wendall Huffman." She then mimicked rocking a baby and pointed at herself.

IT'S ALL IN THE EYES

Crippen, who was hard of hearing, read the name on the board and instantly nodded her head. The two long-lost sisters reconnected after more than five decades of separation on June 27, 2020. Regarding the momentous occasion, Boro shared:

"She goes, 'That's my daddy.' And I pointed at myself, knowing she's hard of hearing, going, 'That's mine, too.' She looked at me like, ‘What?' And because of the eyes… I have our dad's eyes (sic)."

53 YEARS IN THE MAKING

Recalling their blissful reunion that took 53 years, Crippen said she nearly fell out of her chair and burst into tears of joy. "I never thought I'd find her. I couldn't sleep that night; I was just so happy," she added.

Since their first emotional meeting, the two sisters vowed to stay connected and build their profound bond. Boro also introduced Crippen to four more of their siblings virtually.

DESTINED TO MEET

Moreover, Boro and Crippen planned a grand family reunion, including Boro's three children and five grandchildren, Crippen's three kids, and 16 grandkids. The sisters also expressed that their encounter wasn't random and they were destined to meet.

"It's wonderful. And in the end, we don't have to search anymore. The journey's over," said Crippen.

We are glad these long-lost sisters discovered each other amidst the pandemic, and their phenomenal story is worth a read. Please share this story with your loved ones.

Here's another story that you might like, and it's about two sisters who didn't know about each other for four decades until they discovered one day they were living only two blocks apart. Click here to read the whole story.