There, on a camera, was a troubling scene. An elderly woman stumbles into her own living room. As she tries to sit on her recliner, a strange man is trailing behind her.
If that sounds strange, it's nothing compared to what took place just moments earlier. It made for a day that neither will forget.
A Grandmother With Dementia in Danger
Whoever thinks that being a pizza delivery worker is a menial job should speak with Joey Herrera. His Westmore Pizza pie run was paused when he spotted something strange at the corner of his eye.
It was a hand reaching out from a front lawn that seemed to be waving at him. Though unsure of what danger he'd find, Herrera switched course and made his way toward it.
Per Inside Edition, there, laying on the lawn, was 90-year-old Annie Goshen.
She had tripped on a rock while cutting flowers and was unable to get to her feet. Despite having dementia, she was aware enough to flag down the 29-year-old Herrera.
How a Pizza Delivery Man Saved a Grandmother’s Life
Cameras catch Herrera helping Goshen up and into her living room. “I was so afraid when I saw you laying there,” he told her. Once inside, Herrera called 9-1-1 right away. When they arrived, he told them “I just wanted to make sure she was good.”
And fortunately, although she suffered a fracture, Goshen recovered. Even better she said that she will no longer cut flowers without supervision. That's possibly a life-saving lesson. According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults.
Maybe instead of the garden, Goshen can dial up an all-dressed. Something tells me that she can count on the driver being on time.
A Grateful Daughter Says Thank You
Goshen isn't the only one grateful for Herrera's heroics. PJ Steele, Goshen's daughter, said that she has 'no doubt' that her mother would have died if not for his actions. “It’s extraordinary for a young person to be so aware,” said an awestruck Steele.
As a thank you, Steele gave Herrera a check for $350. He also got a bonus from his boss at Westshore Pizza. We're confident that Herrera's customer will forgive this pizza being a couple of minutes late.
Steele added that he's welcome to the family special anytime.
"I had to do a follow-up, so I could show him my love and appreciation for him now and he’s just a part of the family," she said.
How a Pizza Delivery Man Shows That We Should All Be Ready to Rise
Speaking with WFLA, Herrera said that his motivation was being human. “I did what anybody in their right mind would do when they see someone in need,” he said.
Among quotes on kindness, one by Buddha reads, "In separateness lies the world’s great misery, in compassion lies the world’s true strength."
Herrera could have kept going about his day. After all, he delivers pizzas, not miracles. Yet that would be to confuse his job with his duty. No matter our job title, we all have a duty to act when we see someone in need.
That's when we're reminded that a job is just a title, but helping someone goes beyond words. That's our true measure of success.
