St. Joe’s Hospital Parade Served As A Reunion for One Family

JOLIET, IL — Although Governor J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday that he plans to extend the stay-at-home order through May 31, many essential workers are still putting their lives on the line daily during the COVID-19 pandemic. That is the case for James and Rebecca Rasmussen of Joliet, a deputy coroner at Will County Coroner's Office and emergency room technician at AMITA Health St. Joseph Medical Center Joliet, respectively.

Due to their occupations, their three children — 12-year-old twins Hannah and Natalie and 11-year-old Jack — have temporarily moved in with her sister, Kristina McDonald and her family. However, on Wednesday, April 22, they were temporarily reunited with their mom from a distance during the St. Joe's Hospital parade, organized by Babe's Jumbo Hot Dogs owner Tim Reilly.

When Hannah heard about the parade, she asked her aunt if the family could attend. After Kristina emphatically agreed, Hannah created posters, and they made it to the parade in time to see their mom, whose shift was starting at 7 p.m. that evening. It was a great night for the family, whose life has been altered over the last several weeks.

After experiencing cold-like symptoms in March, Rebecca was tested for COVID-19 and ultimately tested negative.

However, the thought of potentially having the virus and infecting her children prompted the Rasmussens to reach out to Kristina and her husband Matt, for assistance. Since April 1, the Rasmussen children have been staying with their aunt, uncle and cousins to protect them from the potential risks associated with their parents' jobs. Since Kristina's job allows her to get off around noon, it has been a fairly seamless transition for the families. As of right now, they do not have a specific timetable for when the children will return home, but are continuing to take it day by day.

The COVID-19 pandemic has united communities and brought families like the Rasmussens and McDonalds closer together. On a daily basis, everyone is reminded that we are all in this together.