Eileen and John Matthews, Residents at HC-One’s Melbury Court Care Home in Durham enjoy their first dinner together in over a year.
They met in Eggington, Derbyshire at Eileen’s 21st birthday party, which he had gate crashed with a friend, who turned out to a relative of Eileen’s. They went on to marry in 1960 and have three children, Susan, Tim and Craig.
John worked in a brewery in Burton on Trent before eventually moving with his family to Newcastle after a promotion. After a while, they moved to Bournmoor for 25 years and then on to Chester-le-Street.
Both were taken poorly 2 years ago where they moved into Melbury Court, John into the nursing unit and Eileen into the Grace unit, where up until the delivery of his new wheelchair John had been bedbound and therefore unable to have a meal with his loving wife.
The care team at Melbury Court took the opportunity to set up a table in the quiet lounge for John and Eileen to enjoy their first meal together.
Eileen was overjoyed that she could sit and enjoy a meal with John and hopes this is the first of many more to come. She commented:
“It was so lovely to have a meal together again after such a long time.”
Her wish is to now to eat out at a restaurant or to visit the seaside with John.