Coronavirus might be putting a pause on our normal daily activities but it can never put a pause on love. That’s why Dr. John Kline’s daily routine still includes a visit to the John Knox Manor nursing home in Montgomery, Alabama so that he could see his wife.
His visits are just a little bit different these days.
Instead of being inside with his wife, his visits involve him talking to his wife through a window. And sometimes even singing through that window. Kline’s wife, Ann Kline, 80, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 17 years ago and now lives at the nursing home.
Every day, Kline, who is also 80, would go to school to teach his students at Troy University about leadership and make it to the nursing home in the late afternoon before dinner so he could see his wife of 45 years for a few hours.
“You know you keep going as long as you can. Perseverance,” Kline told WSFA12 News.
Each day he would stay with his “sweet Ann” until she fell asleep. The next afternoon, he would return. Day after day. Kline’s routine came to an abrupt halt when Alabama enacted a statewide ban on visitors to assisted living facilities and nursing homes in order to stop the spread of coronavirus.
The thought of not making his daily visit never crossed Kline’s mind. So, he and facility administrator Terri Howell came up with a solution that would allow Kline to comply with the social distancing rules.
Kline’s visits would now take place through a window.
“And so he doesn’t want her to forget him, and it’s very important for him to be here singing so she doesn’t lose her ability to do that. He was the first to start it [social distance visiting] at John Knox,” Howell said.
During one of Kline’s most recent visits, he decided to serenade his wife with his beautiful rendition of “Amazing Grace.”
“She still knows me and she keeps talking.. ‘my John, my John, my John,” he said.
Kline’s visits have been shortened to about 15 minutes a day but he says he is still “excited” to visit each day just the same.
“I’ve always said how much I love her, ’til death do us part,” Kline told USA TODAY. “But I’m trying to make the statement that no matter what happens, there’s no reason to give up on love. If she gets where she doesn’t know me, I will still go see her, because I will still know her.”
Kline posted a video of his visit on Facebook where it ended up going viral. The video has received more than 82,000 views in the last week.
“Through a Pane–not a Pain. No visitors to John Knox Manor Nursing Home. Not my best singing–so you probably won’t want to listen. I cut it off at 45 seconds,” the videos caption reads. “I love my Sweet Ann and look forward to spending eternity with her. God bless you for even looking–and if you listened, well that was because you wanted to hear Ann.”
Kline was shocked to see how many people watched and responded to his video. He urged people to reach to each other, especially elder relatives, to make sure we all have some human connection. Especially in these times where that connection can’t be physical in some cases.
You can see true love in action in the video below.
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