Mother, 95, and Daughter Reunited After 5-Years

Mother, 95, and Daughter Reunited After 5-Years
by David Greene

Many of the elderly residents at the 65-bed ArchCare at St Vincent’s Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, celebrated Mother’s Day with a special brunch held for residents, who were joined by family members.

A resident of ArchCare at St Vincent’s Nursing and Rehabilitation Center gets comfort form staff members before the annual Mother’s Day event.–Photo by David Greene

Family members arrived at the home, located at 900 Intervale Avenue in the Woodstock section, for a special brunch that included Cornish Hen with herb garlic sauce or stuffed salmon with sun-dried tomatoes or pesto sauce.

The special day included a mother and daughter reunion between resident Josefina Medina, 95, and her daughter Lydia Cardona who had not seen each other in 5-years.

Josefina Medina and her daughter Lydia Cardona take time out for a photo on Mother’s Day.–Photo by David Greene

A gleaming Cardona recalled, “We were living in Puerto Rico and I had cancer in my nose, I had surgery and I couldn’t take care of her because I also had Multiple Sclerosis.”

As electricity and phone service returned to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, Cardona continued, “I got in touch with Julia Cruz, the director of this program… and the Archdiocese of New York paid for me to come, because I didn’t have a place to stay.”

The pair enjoyed the better part of four days together, before Cardona returned home.