RALEIGH, N.C. — If you sit down with James DeRupa, he's more than willing to tell you his life story.

But at the core of each sentence is family. That made the pandemic especially tough for the 87-year-old, who missed the birth of his great-granddaughter.

"I was going to go in September when my great-granddaughter would be born, but it wasn't good to travel. Then it was going to be Thanksgiving and that wasn't good. Then I was gonna go Christmas and that wasn't good," DeRupa says..

Months went by with DeRupa getting only videos and pictures of Londyn.

"I just cant wait to see her. I've seen picture of her and everything, and she’s a beauty," he says.

Recently, he received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and could go and visit. He packed his suitcase to make the plane ride from Raleigh to Michigan.

Upon arrival, he was able to meet his great-granddaughter for the very first time, giving her the hug he’s been holding the entire pandemic.

“You’re such a cutie! Can you say grandpa? Or Pop-Pop?,” DeRupa said when the two finally meet.