It’s safe to say that all of us who are separated from our loved ones this quarantine are missing them greatly. Ken Benbow is one of the millions of people who have been separated from his loved ones and he is missing them deeply. However, the person that Ken misses the most is his wife, Ada, his love of 71 years. Ever since she passed away, Ken has slept with a framed photo of her face next to him. If that’s not the most romantic and loyal gesture, we don’t know what is!

Until one day, his caretaker decided to surprise him with the most thoughtful gift.

94-year-old Ken lives at Thistleton Lodge, a senior care facility in Lancashire England. 17-year-old Kia Mariah Tobin also lives there for the time being, as she decided to move to the facility to help take care of residents during the pandemic.

Kia knows how difficult losing Ada has been for Ken, so she took it upon herself to have a special gift made for Ken to commemorate his wife… a pillow with her face on it!

Ken was so touched that he broke down crying the moment that he saw the photo. Thistleton has since shared the photo online and thousands have shown their support in response.

“We know our residents are missing their loved ones at this time, but let’s not forget those who sadly aren’t here with us anymore,” they wrote on Facebook. “Today, one of our lovely staff, Kia Mariah Tobin, gave Ken a pillow with his beloved wife on who we also cared for. Safe to say we all shed a tear with Ken today.”

Ken and Ada met many decades ago when he left the Navy and moved to Liverpool. When they met, they shared a special dance, fell deeply in love, and got engaged months later.

“Ada was the most wonderful, most caring wife,” Ken told BBC Breakfast. “We were married for 71 years, and it broke my heart when she left me, but now I’ve got her every night in my arms.”

Ken feels happy to be residing at Thistleton, where he says that he has been treated with nothing but love, especially from his dear friend Kia. It seems as though the entire staff is big-hearted and loving and it makes us happy to hear that elders like Ken are in such wonderful hands.

“I came here to this lovely home, where they are, every one of them, marvelous and so caring,” he told Good Morning Britain. “They don’t see you wanting for anything.”

And in regards to the gift that Kia gave him, he called it “the most precious thing anyone could ever wish for.”

Kind gestures like this give us hope. Clearly Kia is a highly compassionate and kindhearted soul who cares about the people she works with. Ken will certainly treasure his gift for the rest of his life.

Watch the video of Ken’s emotional response to the special surprise that left him feeling eternally grateful to Kia below.

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Sources: Good Morning Britain, BBC