A 91-year-old grandmother got the ultimate surprise on her birthday when she was reunited with her sister, who she had not seen for 15 years.
When Joan Dobson, 91, clocked her sister Jeanie, 80, across the room, her eyes immediately lit up – the pair then coming together for a loving embrace more than a decade in the making.
Joan’s granddaughter, Mindy Baker, captured the moment in her grandmother’s Newark, Ohio, home on video before sharing it on social media.
The post received an outpouring of loving comments, and Mindy said she and everyone in the room struggled to hold back tears.
The last time Joan and Jeanie saw each other, Mindy said, was when they traveled to see their middle sister, Nancy, in Florida, who was very ill at the time and has since passed.
As years went by, a combination of finances and the difficulties of traveling in old age meant Joan and Jeanie, who live in Oklahoma City, could not see each other.
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After such a long time apart, though, Jeanie’s children suggested it was time for the pair to reunite once more, arranging the trip for their mother and paying for her travel.
Once the logistics were in place, Jeanie liaised with members of Joan’s family to plan the surprise, which took place on November 4.
Speaking of the moment, Joan’s granddaughter Mindy said: “I cried. Everyone did!
“My heart felt every bit of their excitement, and I feel the video was able to capture that same feeling.
“My Grammy and Aunt Jeanie needed this visit.
“It was wonderful to see the instant and pure happiness on Grandma’s face, the moment she realized what was going on.
“I think she smiled the rest of the evening.
“Everyone who has commented on the video has expressed their own emotions they felt when watching the video and how heart felt and wonderful the video was to see.”