Husband Supports Wife During Chemotherapy From Outside Hospital

Social distancing has impacted us all in one way or another but undoubtedly, some have felt its impact more severely than others. While we're all avoiding and preventing the spread of coronavirus, it's easy to forget that some of us have been dealing with other medical conditions--like cancer. And these don't go away despite the lockdown.

This is the case of Albert Conner, a father of three, whose wife Kelly is undergoing chemotherapy right now. He wanted to accompany his wife for her chemotherapy appointment but was not allowed inside due to the precautionary measures against the coronavirus. So Albert got creative.

He had promised her he would be there every step of the way

When Kelly Conner went to her March 30 chemotherapy appointment at MD Anderson in Sugar Land, according to Good Morning America, Conner stood outside.

I didn’t feel right not being a part of it because I had promised her that I would be there every step of the way and I felt like I would be breaking my word.

Albert Conner to Good Morning America

Kelly had been fine with driving herself to the appointment, but right after she left, Albert and their children grabbed a poster board and began coloring it with a sweet message. He then drove to the hospital and texted Kelly to let her know he was parked outside.

As soon as he texted me, I just kind of lifted up in my chair a little bit to peer out the window and he was just right there.

Kelly Conner to Good Morning America

She thought her husband was at home

When she looked outside, Kelly saw Albert sitting behind his van with a sign that read, “I can’t be with you but I’m here.” He didn't forget the healthcare workers either. On the sign, there was also a drawing of a heart along with a “thank you” to the hospital’s staff.

"It immediately brought tears to my eyes and I felt a love for him right then in that moment, that he would do that for me," Kelly said. She had certainly not expected to see him there as she thought Albert was back home in Texas.

I think I kind of gasped and the nurse turned around and said, ‘What’s wrong?’ And then she saw I was looking out the window and she looked out and started to tear up too.

Kelly Conner

Nurses were so moved that they went outside too

Albert said a few nurses came outside to thank him too, despite having to go through a screening process to get back inside the hospital.

“A few of them said I was the reason that they come to work,” he recalled. “The attention made me uncomfortable but it made me feel good and was very touching.”

Albert said that it put things into perspective for him.

When you just reflect on everything and think about all the nurses and doctors and other patients, it makes perfect sense. You really can’t argue it. You just have to support it any way you can.

Albert Conner

Kelly will be finished with chemotherapy for her breast cancer in May if all goes as planned. The family is hoping by then social distancing guidelines will have been relaxed and they can be with her for her last appointment, when she will ring the bell.

Otherwise, Albert said he would be right outside ringing the bell in the parking lot.

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