Frederica Freyberg:

It goes without saying COVID-19 has put a strain on families connecting in an up-close and personal way these days. A Milwaukee pharmacist has been able to bring four generations of her family closer by doing her job. “Here & Now” special projects journalist Murv Seymour has the story.

Lynn Chars:

She was born in Ashland, you know.

Murv Seymour:

Lynn and Lauren Chars are mother and daughter.

Lauren Chars:

My mom is someone who I’m very close with.

Murv Seymour:

With a picture perfect relationship.

Lauren Chars:

Sometimes people even get us confused because our names both start with “L”. We kind of look alike.

Lynn Chars:

My daughter Lauren is a pharmacist for CVS. She’s been doing that for approximately one year.

Murv Seymour:

Because of COVID-19 pandemic…

Lynn Chars:

Her graduation was placed on hold.

Lauren Chars:

It took a village to get me through the doctoral program. I’m an only child, but I do have a large extended family, including my grandmother.

Murv Seymour:

From a picnic table at a downtown Milwaukee park.

Lynn Chars:

This is her Packer party.

Murv Seymour:

Mom and daughter sift through photos of Lynn’s mother-in-law, who is Lauren’s grandmother.

Lynn Chars:

We all just adore her. We just love her.

Lauren Chars:

She’s just a really strong leader and someone that built the foundation for a wonderful family. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her influence.

Murv Seymour:

For the past 11 years the heart of the family has been living in a southeastern Wisconsin nursing home, the same one where Lauren’s mom works as a speech therapist.

Lynn Chars:

We used to visit her every single day at his lunch time.

Murv Seymour:

Before COVID-19, Grandma Clare had plenty of routine in-person visits.

Lynn Chars:

She was able to come into the building at that time. It was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Murv Seymour:

During the pandemic, they’ve had to love Clare from a distance.

Lynn Chars:

I was concerned about her getting the virus and maybe not making it because of her age. She’s 87. There was approximately 54 weeks that went by where we weren’t able to visit her.

Murv Seymour:

To ease the pain of not seeing her, they set up window visits.

Lauren Chars:

Sometimes we had some large, bright posters: “Happy Birthday Grandma,” “Happy Thanksgiving, Grandma.” She was able to be reminded of the love around her.

Lynn Chars:

It was an opportunity to see somebody you hadn’t seen for months or even a year.

Murv Seymour:

Lauren’s unique role as a pharmacist would give her and the family an opportunity to protect and see Grandma Clare in person.

Lauren Chars:

I travel around to various CVS locations in the greater Milwaukee area. My first responsibility is to fill prescriptions. I also now participate in enhanced services to help with the COVID-19 pandemic. I went to several nursing homes.

Murv Seymour:

CVS set up on-site vaccination clinics at more than 1800 long-term care facilities throughout Wisconsin. Clare’s nursing home was one of them.

Lauren Chars:

I definitely love giving immunizations. It’s one of my favorite parts of the job.

Murv Seymour:

A lot of those vaccinations were provided at the hands of this rookie pharmacist some nicknamed “The Vaccinator.” And, yes, Lauren proudly got to deliver a shot in the arm to mom, grandma and the others at Clare’s nursing home.

Lauren Chars:

I was able to switch around my schedule with the help of some of my supervisors and colleagues to be there at the specific nursing home where my mother works and my grandmother lives. I know that so many folks in long-term care facilities are really struggling right now from not being able to see their loved ones.

Murv Seymour:

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Lauren’s mom says ironically…

Lynn Chars:

I think of words that begin with “C.” Communication was number one. The other one is compassion. The other “C” word is caregiving. I was a therapist, but I became a caregiver. The vaccine provided us with a cure, but it provided us with confidence in being able to live normally again.

Lauren Chars:

Being able to finally get to have a visit in person with my family member is one of the greatest gifts.

Murv Seymour:

The other gift? A visit to grandma from the doctoral graduate granddaughter just before her official graduation ceremony.

Lynn Chars:

Grandma Clare was able to see Lauren in her graduation gown and cap. She said, “Congratulations, Dr. Chars. When’s the party?”

Murv Seymour:

Pretty sure…

Man:

Lauren Chars.

Murv Seymour:

It’s already started. Reporting for “Here & Now,” I’m Murv Seymour.

Frederica Freyberg:

Dr. Chars is a graduate of Butler University in Indiana. CVS Health tells us more than 77,000 of the most vulnerable Wisconsinites received vaccinations at their locations across the state. For continuing coverage on COVID-19 and all the stories we shared tonight, go to PBSwisconsin.org and then click on the news page.