Volunteers help couple separated by health circumstances reunite

COMMACK, Long Island (PIX11) -- Salvatore and Catherine Giarusso have been married for more than 60 years but heart-wrenching circumstances separated the couple recently.

Salvatore has late-stage ALS and is in a home hospice. Catherine was recently struck by a car and is in rehab at St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson.

At 91 years old, Salvatore had one wish to see his wife one last time.

That wish came true courtesy of the good-hearted men and women of the Commack EMS.

The workers volunteered their time to bring Salvatore from his home hospice to be by his wife's side outside the hospital.

They met on the beach more than 6 decades ago. Salvatore said his towel blew away, just so he could retrieve it and talk to Catherine for the first time.

They married and grew old together with two children and three grandchildren. Their children describe them as two 'real characters'.

Salvatore and Catherine's children hope it won't be the last time their parents see each other but if it is, they say they are grateful to the volunteers who make it happen.