Devoted couple from Leeds married for almost 60 years reunited after ill health forced them apart
“I didn’t think I was ever gonna see her again”
A couple from Yeadon who have been together for almost 60 years have been reunited after a hospital stay forced them to spend 11 weeks apart.
Though they grew up attending the same church, Isabelle and Brian Healeas first met while working at Storey Evans Printers in Rawdon back in 1967.
For both Brian who was a lorry driver, and Isabelle who worked in the factory operating folding machines, it was love at first sight.
“I thought he were right handsome and he thought I were good looking,” Isabelle told the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“He went home and said to his mother Eunice’s daughter who works there is lovely - I’ll never forget that.”
Brian added: “There’s nothing that could give me more pleasure than to have her and I’ve had her for 58 years.”
A year later, the couple married at St Andrew’s Church in Yeadon and honeymooned in Morecambe which Isabelle said was the “in-place” of the time.
Isabelle and Brian have been inseparable since they first met 59 years ago, however when they were both admitted to hospital earlier this year, they were forced to spend almost three months apart.
The pair were patients at St James University Hospital after Isabelle had injuries from a fall and a clot in her lung, while Brian had knee and bowel issues.
Despite staying in the same hospital, the couple were unable to see each other due to infection risks.
It was the longest time in almost six decades that Isabelle and Andrew had been apart.
Isabelle said: “It wasn’t good so I tried not to think about it too much.
“I just thought he’ll be alright - they’ll be looking after him.”
When Brian was ready to leave hospital on April 20, he decided to move into Adel Square Care Home, a brand new care home in Leeds.
Brian became one of the first residents at the care home and said he was “elated” from the moment he walked through the doors.
The one thing that was missing was Isabelle.
Luckily, on May 12, 22 days after Brian left hospital and over 11 weeks since the married couple had been forced to stay apart, Isabelle was ready to move into Adel Square Care Home too.
When Isabelle and Brian reunited the pair cried, as did care home staff, and the ambulance crew.
Brian said: “When they took me to my room, I didn’t think I was ever gonna see her again.
“I couldn’t believe it.”
Reunited, the pair are proudly Adel Square Care Home’s first ever married couple.
With rooms just a few doors apart, they are back to seeing each other every day like they used to do.
Both Isabelle and Brian have experienced sickness but they’ve stuck together to stay true to their wedding promises.
“When we got married I said to the vicar I’ll keep these vows and I’ll go with them all my life until I’m not here,” Brian said.
Isabelle added: “You just get on with it. You persevere and things get better.”
For decades, Isabelle and Brian have done everything together from holidays around the world to their weekly grocery shop.
And when asked their best tip on how to make a marriage last, Brian shared these words of wisdom:
“If you want something, you work hard to get it.
“But once you’ve got it, you keep it.”