IT was an emotional day for two sisters this week who were reunited after being separated for almost four years.
Doreen Morgen, 88, and her sister Cynthia Steedman, 87, met at Longlands Care Home in Blackbird Leys on Thursday with thanks to a care worker who joined the dots.
Lea Mason, the home manager at Longlands Care Home, had previously worked at Stirlings Care Home in Wantage. While there, she had spent a lot of time with Mrs Morgen who spoke of her sister, Mrs Steedman, a great deal.
The two sisters, who had lived in Oxfordshire, had unfortunately lost numbers and lost contact as their families moved away from each other and they were both put into care homes due to their age.
But when Ms Mason moved to Longlands Care Home as the new home manager, she happened to see Mrs Steedman’s name and the penny dropped.
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She organised for the sisters to speak on the phone and then a face-to-face reunion, where the sisters enjoyed afternoon tea with their families and a cake to mark the occasion.
Mrs Morgen said: “I am absolutely over the moon to be with my sister again" and her sister, Mrs Steedman, said: “Before meeting again I had everything I wanted but not my precious sister."
The home manager, Ms Mason, said: “It is beyond words and an honour to have been able to bring Doreen and Cynthia together again. I am so happy to have seen the connection and to put everything in motion with the help of the Orders of St John Care Trust team here at Longlands and at Stirlings.
"To make their wish come true and to see the joy on their faces is something I will never forget.”
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Both of their families were at the reunion and have all exchanged numbers with one another, making sure to keep in contact.
Mrs Steedman’s son, Adrian, said: “It is so wonderful what the homes and Lea Mason did to help bring together our mother with our aunt. Both our families were present today and it was a reunion for all of us as relatives, too, and really moving to have witnessed such a special moment between the two of them.”
Both homes are run by OSJCT.
The Trust said: “We are dedicated to our residents and it is very fulfilling to be able to help and to support their wishes.”
The Trust employs approximately 4,000 staff and assists more than 3,500 residents. It also works closely with Dementia UK.
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