Husband, 98, Walks 6 Miles a Day to Visit Wife in the Hospital and Make Her Day Better

An aged New York resident made headlines when the touching story of his true love for his wife got out. The senior citizen ensured he was available by his sick wife's side, no matter the weather.

Love manifests in many heart-melting ways. For Luther Younger, it was all about the grand gesture of reaching out to his long-time wife, Waverlee Younger, even as she lay on her sick bed.

Waverlee had been suffering an illness for years but never once lost her husband's presence and company. Every day he showed intentionality, letting her know he was by her side through it all.

LUTHER'S SELFLESS ACT

After his wife was hospitalized for brain cancer, Luther made a pact to always reach out to her. Without minding his age and the mode of transportation, he made his way to the hospital every day.

Luther would walk six miles to and from the Strong Memorial Hospital where Waverlee was being cared for, never getting tired. Through his frequent journey, commuters and neighbors noticed him.

Luther's story made it to the news, and Spectrum News decided to cover his touching story. During one of his frequent walks, the local hero also shared the story of his and Waverlee's love with CBS News.

At the time of his interview with CBS News, although Luther's age could not be confirmed, the news site initially stated that he was 99. However, according to Spectrum News, Luther was 98 years old.

Luther's warm love story with Waverlee turned bleak for both of them in 2009 when she was diagnosed with brain cancer. The aftermath saw Luther make trips with his wife in and out of hospitals as the ailment ravaged her body.

At that time, he first started walking down to the hospital. Each time Waverley needed to be at the hospital, Luther would take it upon himself to be by her side whether it was scorching, raining, or snowing.

Waverlee's cancer returned in 2018, and at a point, she became paralyzed. Her husband kept up his visits, walking long distances to the hospital. He revealed that their only daughter, Lutheta, would offer to drive him, but he did not want to wait on anybody before seeing his wife.

Sometimes he would pass the night at the hospital sleeping on the floor. This was the depth Luther was willing to go to make sure the love of his life did not feel lonely while bedridden.

He admitted knowing he could get help from passersby and locals who offered to drive him down, but he chose to turn them down. He recalled how people would sometimes tell him to act his age.

Luther shared that he would not mind their opinions because he knew he was hale and hearty. He added that he did not indulge in smoking or drinking alcohol because it was "no good."

INSIDE THEIR LOVE AND MARRIAGE

Speaking about their love, the Rochester resident shared that Waverlee was a "beautiful lady," and "she treated me as a person is supposed to be." Luther explained that his wife made a man out of him.

For that reason, he remained in love, cherishing her presence in his life every day. He stated that his wife was a tough woman, the kind of a woman he had always wanted.

The senior citizen opened up on how they first met at a laundromat and ended up later getting married at home. He recalled how beautiful she looked on their wedding day and knew he had made the right choice.

Their only child together is Lutheta, but the Texas native had kids from his previous relationship. He described how Waverlee was selfless as she took it upon herself to care for his other children.

Luther credited his wife as the backbone he needed to make it in life. He shared that Waverlee worked hard and would not be with anyone who did not do the same. She did not condone not having a job.

At the hospital, Luther would exchange pleasantries with the nurses and then meet his wife. During his interview, he described Waverlee as "his cup of tea." Luther said about her:

"She would come in and kiss me and say 'baby' and feed me in the bed, and this is what I need right here."

After walking into the hospital room, Luther scooted close to Waverlee, who seemed to be sleeping. He kissed her, and her eyes fluttered. The former Marine felt good that his kiss could still make her happy. He proudly described her:

"That's my cup of tea, and she's sweet too. She's the best cup of tea I ever had."

Lutheta chipped in at this moment, noting that her father had always referred to her mother that way. The woman who watched her parents share pure love for over 50 years added:

"He's always called her that. He's always cared about her the way he does [now]. He loves my mom, He'll do anything for her."

She stated that she always offered to find Luther a ride, but he was adamant about walking down to the hospital. Besides helping him reach his wife, walking was a way to clear his head.

According to Lutheta, Luther believed walking would help him stay alive. At the end of the day, the senior citizen left the hospital to let Waverlee rest. Although he seemed a bit downcast while leaving, he knew he would be back the next day to see her again.

Lutheta relayed that both her parents moved in with her until Waverlee had to be at the hospital. She stated that she had moved them out of their home into hers. She and her siblings also took it upon themselves to provide for the aged couple.

Lutheran opened a GoFundMe account with a $60,000 goal. This was to cover medical bills and travel expenses.

After Luther's story went viral, many well-wishing people sent their donations, and they were able to gather over $50,000. This was their own way of rooting for the unconditional love that Luther felt for his wife.