‘Saddest-photo’ couple reunited after being forced apart

An elderly couple forced to live apart against their wishes have been reunited at a Surrey facility.

Wolfram Gottschalk has been moved into the same seniors’ care home where his wife Anita is living, nine months after the two were separated.

Married 62 years, the couple’s story led to an outpouring of support and outrage after their granddaughter posted a heartbreaking photo of them crying during a visit. 

Granddaughter Ashley Bartyik took this heartbreaking photo of her grandparents last month as they met for a visit at a transition house for people waiting to get into nursing homes. (Facebook/Ashley Bartyik)

The Gottschalk family released a statement thanking Fraser Health and “everyone around the world.”

“Thursday, our family joyfully witnessed the reunification of Wolfram and Anita Gottschalk. Wolfram has finally been moved to the same facility as Anita at the residence at Morgan Heights. The reunion saw tears of joy for all involved. They can now be under the same roof for their remaining years.” the statement read.

Wolfram, 83, was hospitalized in January and subsequently moved to the Yale Road Centre in North Surrey, a transitional residential care facility located thirty-minutes away from his home in the community. 

In July, Anita, 81, moved into an assisted living facility. Because Wolfram suffers from dementia and lymphoma he requires a higher level of care than his wife, which made it it difficult to find a place where the couple could live together.