Couple keeps romance alive in nursing, rehab facility
BUTLER TWP — For their second Valentine’s Day as a couple, Sandee Welch and Bob Henry met in Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center’s common room Thursday, Feb. 13, to see the singer who performed at their promise ceremony in July.
The couple expects this Valentine’s Day to be even more romantic than last year’s, because they had only just gotten together by the time the holiday rolled around in 2024. Valentine’s Day is special to Henry and Welch, however, because the holiday last year is when Welch realized she loved Henry.
“We were down here for the activity last year and he gave me a heart-shaped jewelry box that he painted red and put a pink heart on,” Welch said. “That was when I realized I loved him.”
Henry has lived in Sunnyview for about 11 years, but Welch only moved in about two years ago. Henry said he immediately took to Welch, and they got together romantically only a few months after she moved into the home.
The couple’s romance hasn’t wavered in the year since that gesture. Welch has an electric wheelchair, while Henry has a manual one, so Welch wheels over to his room to watch TV, hold hands and kiss, just about every day. Henry said his room is caddy-corner to Welch’s so they can see each other pretty much all the time.
“She can look over into my room and I can see her,” Henry said. “I think it’s romantic.”
With the first anniversary of the couple’s promise ceremony approaching, Welch said they have plans to continue attending the activities hosted by Sunnyview, and keep the romance alive by giving each other gifts.
“We still love each other,” Welch said.
