Like many of the elders in this country, Glenna and Eugene Luetgers of Plymouth, Minnesota, spent most of last year locked up, safe in their community center, but unable to be with the rest of the family.
One of the things they missed most was seeing their granddaughter, Lindsey Hawkins, on a regular basis.
“It was kind of traumatic at first,” said Glenna, 87, to an NBC affiliate KARE.
“When we were unable to receive visitors, it was a low point,” agreed Eugene, who is also 87 years old.
But, he said, he had an idea.
He knew that Lindsey, a pharmacist, was working with a vaccination team at Covid-19. Then he made a special request: that she be the one to vaccinate her grandparents.
“It seemed like a good idea, you know,” he said. “If she is giving everyone injections, I would like to hear from her.”
Hawkins didn’t think it was possible at first, but she changed a few things and made it work.
Giving grandparents the first shots of protection touched her. “This is indescribable,” said Hawkins. “It was very exciting for me.”
A few days ago, she returned to Cherrywood Pointe in Plymouth to administer her second dose, and probably some sweet relief.
Said Hawkins: “I will remember that for the rest of my life.”