Having a loved one with dementia is a heartbreaking and challenging experience for families.
The fear of them wandering off and getting lost is a constant concern.
However, in a heartwarming incident last year, Gigi, a 92-year-old woman with advanced dementia, wandered away from her home, only to be returned by a compassionate Amazon driver named Wilmar.
Wilmar said he noticed Gigi while she was wandering in Franklin Square, N.J. Her urgent waving caught his attention, but it was the wristband she wore that contained her name and contact information that made him realize something was wrong.
I was delivering and I saw this older lady was walking by. She waved at me, which isn’t an odd occurrence, people wave at you all the time as an Amazon driver. But she was waving at me like something happened.”
Using the information on the wristband, Wilmar managed to contact Gigi’s granddaughter, Karen. At the time, Karen was away, picking up her mother from a doctor’s appointment. Nonetheless, she quickly provided Wilmar with their address, allowing him to take Gigi back home.
Wilmar helps GiGi out of his delivery truck. Photo courtesy of Ring video
Expressing her deep appreciation, Karen said, “I felt that Wilmar went above and beyond. We have that type of a great close-knit community here, that if there’s something that a driver’s going to spot, that’s out of line, he’s going to say, ‘I’m going to make sure that my customers are taken care of because this doesn’t look right.'”
Wilmar considers himself an integral part of the community where he delivers packages. He strongly believes in looking out for one another and maintaining a sense of safety and security.
“I think it’s very important that the community looks out for one another. If something happens, see something, say something. You just wanna make sure that your neighbors are safe, and everybody’s happy. It benefits all as long as we’re all contributing,” he said.
Wilmar helps GiGi get back into her home. Photo courtesy of Ring video
Wilmar’s act of kindness made a significant impact on Gigi’s family. Not only does Karen’s family take care of her grandmother, her father also suffers from dementia. Even though she has invested in home monitoring gadgets to ensure their safety, it was Wilmar’s compassionate intervention that made a profound difference in this particular instance. Karen was able to witness the entire event through her doorbell camera, watching Wilmar assist Gigi out of his vehicle and hold her hand as they walked toward the front door.
Beyond Gigi’s family, Wilmar’s actions resonated with people online. Many expressed their gratitude and admiration for his compassionate act. One YouTube user commented:
That driver should be commended. He was in the right place at the right time, but he easily could have kept on driving. This proves there are angels on earth.”
In a world that often feels fast-paced and disconnected, stories like Wilmar’s remind us of the power of compassion and community. Gigi’s safe return home serves as a testament to the impact one person can make when they choose to go above and beyond.
Watch below to see the heartwarming video.
