![\"\"](\"https:\/\/armenia23.ru\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IMG_1893-245x300.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nDaughter of the late couple Karen Kreager noted, \u2018The most important thing for us was that they were together.\u2019<\/p>\n
An elderly couple who had been married for almost 70 years were able to spend their last moments holding hands in a hospital in Tennessee. <\/p>\n
According to his obituary, Tommy Stevens passed away on September 8 at the age of 91, one day before <\/p>\n
the couple’s 69th wedding anniversary. Virginia, his 91-year-old wife, passed away nine days later.<\/p>\n
The couple’s daughter, Karen Kreager, told the VUMC Voice of Vanderbilt University Medical Center that her parents <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u2018both lit up\u2019 when they saw one another during their reunion at the hospital prior to his passing.<\/p>\n
When Kreager entered, her father was awake, according to Kreager. He had open eyes. He was mainly whispering to himself, not saying anything at all. <\/p>\n
But he was aware that she was present and would soon be standing next to him. They remained hand in hand the entire time.<\/p>\n
Doyle Thomas \u2018Tommy\u2019 Stevens Jr. and Virginia McKarem attended Dobyns-Bennett High School and were both from Kingsport, <\/p>\n
Tennessee, according to his obituary. Later, they both attended the University of Tennessee, and on September 9, 1954, they got married.<\/p>\n
After serving as a first lieutenant in the American Army, Tommy started his career as a transportation manager for Burlington Industries,<\/p>\n
according to his obituary. Later on, he established Distribution and Transportation Services, Inc. <\/p>\n
Virginia was involved with the neighborhood church, school, and civic organizations in addition to working with Tommy at DTS, according to her obituary. <\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/armenia23.ru\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IMG_1894-266x300.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Karen and Greg, the couple’s two children, were born and raised in Memphis, where Tommy and Virginia resided. <\/p>\n
The couple relocated to Franklin after they retired in order to be close to their kids and grandchildren.<\/p>\n
According to VUMC Voice, the veteran suffered Alzheimer’s illness in his advanced years. He and Virginia <\/p>\n
were living in an assisted living facility when he was transferred to a memory care section. <\/p>\n
According to the hospital, Tommy was transported to VUMC due to breathing problems and dangerously low blood pressure. <\/p>\n
There, he was identified as having sepsis and pneumonia and later transferred to the Palliative Care Unit when further treatment was no longer feasible.<\/p>\n
Tommy was taken to the hospital on the same day that Virginia, who had fallen, was also taken there. <\/p>\n
Virginia, who had six broken ribs, a spine fracture, and a hip injury, was admitted to the Trauma ICU at VUMC.<\/p>\n
The VUMC staff brought the couple together to make it easier for the couple’s family to see Tommy at the Palliative Care Unit and Virginia at the Trauma ICU separately. <\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/armenia23.ru\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IMG_1892-300x184.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Virginia was first placed in a room next to Tommy’s and then a bed was placed beside his so Virginia could be with him to comfort him.<\/p>\n
Virginia said to VUMC Voice, \u2018You know, it helped me a lot.\u2019 \u2018The fact that I wouldn’t have to worry about him just brought me comfort. He was accompanying me.<\/p>\n
Tommy and Virginia were captured in a family snapshot from their hospital beds holding hands.<\/p>\n
According to Karlekar, \u2018She was able to tell me Monday that she was at peace with what was happening and she wanted to be there until the end.\u2019<\/p>\n