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A virtual reunion, just in time for a 100th birthday

Betsy Kling helps to reunite a father and daughter who have spent weeks apart during coronavirus lockdowns.

LAKEWOOD, Ohio — Like so many in the greatest generation, Al Keeling has seen a lot in his 99 years. 

He's lived through the Great Depression, and served his country as a code breaker during World War Two. He raised a family, and retired from a long career in the railroads. Now, he spends his days in assisted living, at Bloom at Lakewood.

His daughter Jackie Holland was a regular visitor, but now, amid the coronavirus pandemic, she's had to stay away. She has a lung condition and hasn't been able to visit her dad in weeks. And now, she won't be able to throw the party she had planned to celebrate his milestone 100th birthday, which falls on Easter Sunday.

Jackie recently wrote to 3News Chief Meteorologist Betsy Kling and shared that it had been weeks since she had been able to see her dad. She didn't know how to set up video conferencing, so they'd been staying in touch over the phone. 

We thought we could probably help with that, here at 3News, so we worked with the team at Bloom to help get them connected. Watch the full video in the player above to see their sweet reunion.

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