THIS WILL bring a tear to your eye.
With lockdown measures in place across much of the globe, people around the world are missing their loved ones: in Ireland, children are visiting their grandparents through glass windows, couples are entering their fifth week of being apart, and the elderly are cocooning, cut off from their family.
In one care home in Preston, England, one man has been missing his wife for longer than the lockdown, however.
Elderly war hero Ken Bembow, who lives in the Thistleton Lodge care home, lost his wife Aida-- who was also a resident of Thistleton Lodge-- nine months ago after 71 years of marriage, but still sleeps with a photograph of her every night.
One big-hearted member of staff at the Lodge, carer Kia Mariah Tobin, noticed what the 94-year-old was doing and took it upon herself to gift him with something incredibly special: a pillow with Aida's photograph on it.
In a video posted to the Thistleton Lodge's Facebook page, Kia Mariah can be seen telling Ken she has a present for him.
"What's that, darling?" he asks, and gives a delighted 'HA!' when he sees the gift.
The delight quickly turns to tears as he clutches the pillow and gives Kia Mariah a hug.
"I thought that might be a bit better than your photograph," Kia Mariah tells him as she's swept into a hug from the war hero, who joined the navy at just 17 years of age to fight in World War II.
Posting the video to their Facebook page, Thistleton Lodge wrote:
"We know our residents are missing their loved ones at this time but let’s not forget those who sadly aren’t here with us anymore.
"Today, one of our lovely staff Kia Mariah Tobin gave Ken a pillow with his beloved wife on who we also cared for.
"Safe to say we all shed a tear with Ken today. Lots of love, your Thistleton Lodge family."
The gorgeous video quickly went viral, and this morning Ken and Kia Mariah appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain, where Ken spoke of the "wonderful" gift.
"I have been sleeping with a picture of my wife for nine months now since she died," Ken told hosts Piers and Susanna.
The war veteran re-told the story of the moment he was gifted the pillow, but became emotional again, telling GMB "I'm going to cry if I keep on, because it was so touching".
"It was lovely. It was the most precious thing anyone could ever wish for."
You can watch the full Good Morning Britain interview below.
