She begins her love letter with, “I know a man.”

It is written with love, reflection and pain.

“I know a man. A man with a heart of gold. A man of many faces. He has felt the hand of God on his shoulders. This man I know worked hard as a child. He gave up so much as he grew.

I know a man who has hopes for so many he loves, but can’t help, yet when he is needed, he tries.

I know a man who loves the earth. The feel of the earth in his hand. The man plants and enjoys the plants that come through for him.

This man I know hurts all over his body from a disease without a cure but he goes on in pain.

A man that does not want to hear there must be changes made. I want to help this man.

This man can be so gentle but he still feels he cannot do enough.

This man must come out of a small world and see it as it is today.

I know this man has many dreams, knows they won’t come true but still he goes on.

This man loves his church and his God.

I know a man who was harassed that he was not a family man. This man can forgive but will never forget the hurt. Love holds them together, through his God.

I know this man can have long talks together sometimes late into the nights. The heart of this man is hearing with thoughts of people he loves. His heart has been broken so many times.

This man I know will listen and think about all the problems he can’t fix.

I know a man who has tears when he talks about his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

This is a man who loves deeply and will always love this way. His love makes you feel protected.

I love this man deeply and want to protect him from hurt and the people who hurt him.

I know a man and this is my life.

I spent it forever with him. My friend, my protector, my love and most of all, my husband.”

Lila Mae and Alton Kleintop met in Polk High School. They’ve been together ever since their first date. They have been married 63 years, have two children, Dean, who lives in Florida, and Joy, who lives in North Carolina. They are grandparents of three and great-grandparents to seven. All are precious to them.

They lived in Gilbert their whole married life. Even after retirement, together they continued to work: in their large garden, canning and freezing the bounty of their labors including homemade sauerkraut; creating yarn loom square items with Alton doing the looming and Lila creating afghans, hot pads, table runners and more; making lures for a local bait and tackle shop. Always working together.

They worshipped together as faithful members of their church and to their God.

Where one was, so was the other. Always.

It became difficult to remain in their beloved home and so they moved to a personal care home in December of 2018. Still together.

Until March this year.

Alton, 84 at the time, was hospitalized. From there he was moved to a nursing home in Lehighton, in the beginning of COVID-19.

In their separate homes, they were now in lockdown. They were not only separated for the first time in their long married life, they couldn’t see each other, touch each other, love each other.

In April, they spent their anniversary apart. Lila wasn’t there for Alton’s birthday in June.

There were phone calls and then video chats, but those only every Tuesday. One of his hearing aids has gone missing and phone calls of any kind are difficult.

Alton was hospitalized in the beginning of September. Their daughter came home and together she and Lila were able to visit Alton in person for the first time in six months.

It was a bittersweet reunion, one fraught with tears and lots of love. But then Alton was sent back to the nursing home and she couldn’t see him in person again until recently.

Alton has lost so much weight, he can no longer wear his wedding band. So Lila wears it on a necklace chain, close to her heart.

“I look at the two chairs facing the TV. I see the empty chair and I am filled with so much longing, and wonder if I’ll ever see him sitting there again,” she says.

She wanted their story to be told because she wants just one thing … for them to be together and wonders why it can’t be. Lila doesn’t need assisted living but Alton needs skilled care. Surely they aren’t the only married couple who are in similar straits?

“Why isn’t there a place where they can accommodate us both?” she cries plaintively.

Well, according to a source at a local senior living center, places do exist. They probably wouldn’t be able to live together in the same room/apartment, but they could be living in the same building on different floors. More importantly, they would be able to see each other whenever they wanted.

If … they qualify. If … they survive the waiting list. As more of us live longer, this is becoming a quandary for many.

Maybe this is an issue that needs a resolution, now.

Because Lila knows a man. A man who has been her whole life. It doesn’t seem like a lot to ask that they be able to spend their remaining years together. After all, they took a vow … “until death do us part.”