GRAND CHUTE, Wis. (NBC 26) -- Ever since his wife, Virginia, passed away just last month, at 93 years old, Ramon Asplund wants to be alive for his family members.
And while he's been eligible for the Covid vaccine for nearly two months, Asplund physically can't get to a vaccination facility. So he wasn't able to get it.
"I've been in the house for over a year and I can't walk to the stairs," Asplund said. "The legs are just gone."
Asplund finally got the first dose right in his house. With the help of a few firefighters, he's one step closer to extinguishing Covid-19.
"It's a relief," Asplund's daughter Christi Seidl said. "It means he can see his great grandchildren. It's protection and we just didn't know how we were gonna get it done."
The Grand Chute Fire Department is planning on delivering the Moderna vaccine to homebound residents of the town.
Asplund was the department's first vaccine delivery so far. With a fridge full of doses, firefighters say they need more signups from those unable to leave their houses 'under normal circumstances.'
"We recognize that there are many places now that people can go, but if they can't get there, that's the idea behind the program," Assistant Chief Kelly Hanink said.
The program hasn't started yet. Wednesday was the department's first trial run.
"I'd have to have someone come up here or something," Asplund said about getting a dose. "[I] thought maybe a nurse or something and when I heard the fire department was involved, it was great."
Seidl says she fears for her father's life. So the department is happy to alleviate some pressure.
"We're trying to kind of find various different gaps," Hanink said. "And it makes me excited to be able to deliver the vaccine."
After her mother's death in February, Seidl is thankful for the firefighters who are helping preserve her father's health.
"Knowing that he's protected, that I might have him a little longer and not have to worry as much, yea, I'm grateful," Seidl, who also thanks the Ridgeview Highlands retirement community office for facilitating the vaccination, said.
The fire department says it is logging a list of interested patients before opening the program fully. If you're interested in learning more about getting a vaccine delivered to your home, visit the Grand Chute website here.
