By Laura French
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — A Maryland EMT reunited with his grandmother after a year apart at a COVID-19 vaccine site.
Montgomery County EMT Mike Rechen, 28, gave the vaccine to his grandma Shirley Donaldson, 90, in a joyful reunion on Tuesday, NBC Washington reported. Rechen stayed separated from Donaldson, who helped raise him since he was a baby, in order to protect her from the virus once the pandemic hit.
“I’ve probably given close to 300 of these shots and my hands were shaking on this one,” Rechen told NBC Washington. The station reported that Montgomery County helped facilitate the reunion when Donaldson’s appointment lined up with Rechen’s shift.
Donaldson said the separation from her family has been difficult but that they plan to celebrate when they can get back together again.