Relationships come and go, but love endures.
This is a simple lesson that is being played out at the Drumheller Health Centre as a couple, who have spent 38 years together, remain together.
Katie Klassen is facing some tough medical issues and for the last two months her husband Henry has spent every possible moment at her side. Some days are good and some are bad, but whatever it is, they are facing it together.
Henry just turned 89 in June, and Katie is 87. She has been in the hospital since May 20. Henry says they feel well supported as they work on the health issues.
The couple found each other later in life, and the bond has been strong. Henry had never married and Katie lost her first husband to cancer.
Katie worked for the Co-op in Linden and Henry worked in the tire bay at Drumheller Co-op. One day Henry received a call from Katie asking him to accompany her to a party. He later learned this was done with a fair amount of pressure from her co-workers.
He readily accepted.
“I said, ‘I’ll always be your friend,’” he said. “From that day on we really bonded.”
They continued the relationship and their love grew. Henry said they had much in common, and that helped them forge their bonds. Katie had one daughter and three sons, and before they were married, they sought blessing from their families.
“She consulted her family and mentioned to them what we had in mind, but if they had any disagreement on that, then we would cut it off,” said Henry. “They very much agreed.”
The couple was married on March 30, 1974.
“The relationship between her family and our side, there has been no friction I could ever detect. In fact, when times get tough that is when you can tell where it’s at, and the family has been very supportive, even more so now,” said Henry.
Henry is not only receiving support from family, who are ready to drop everything to be at the couple’s side if needed, but is also getting support from friends, especially his former pastor Clint Oakman.
He said one thing they have cherished over the years is traveling and holidaying together. This includes a cruise to Bermuda in 1994, and annual trips to Radium with his brother-in-law and sister.
Today Henry is spending as much time at the hospital with his wife as he can, only returning home now and again to take care of personal business. He even spends the night in the hospital room beside her.
He said it is not because he is untrusting of the care she is receiving, in fact he has high praise for the medical staff.
“The care here by the doctors and the nurses is top rate,” said Henry. “I am watching how they are dealing with patients and it is just mind boggling how they handle the pressure.”
He is there to keep her company and help however he can in her battle.
“There have been times when I think this is it, and then she rallies again. She has some high days and some low days, and the medical professionals are right on it to keep her going, and they have,” he said.
While it is day to day, Henry said there have been some very positive signs with her treatment, and he remains by her side.
“I figure that’s the least I can do, I think it helps her too. There is such a thing as emotional health,” said Henry.
