Struggling Woman Is Stranded With Only $5- A Chance Encounter With A Stranger Changed Her Life Forever
When a man stopped to help a woman on the side of the road, he had no idea the good deed would come full circle three years later.
Back in 2014, Georgian native Chris Wright was driving his family to church in the rain. Along the way, he spotted a woman walking along the side of the road with a gas can in her hand. Knowing the closest gas station was still quite far away, he dropped off his family and circled back to pick the woman up.
Turning the day around
For her part, TunDe Hector was going through an extremely hard time. She was in the middle of a divorce and struggling financially, and when her car ran out of gas she had only five bucks in her pocket. Her only option was to walk to the closest gas station. So when Wright pulled over to help her, it was a life-changing act of kindness.
“I was being tugged on the inside again and felt the Lord say, 'Whatever you have in your pocket just give it to her. She needs that,'" Wright later told ABC News. "I gave her the $40 and she cried and I didn't know if I'd ever see her again."
I felt like it was what I was led to do at that point.
Chris Wright
According to Wright’s wife, Carmen, her husband always had a big heart but he’d never felt compelled to help a stranger like that before. "You know when you have an urge and a desire to do something good?" she toldCBSNews. "He was raised that way. He's kind and generous to everyone. He'd never picked up anybody before, but he felt compelled."
Although neither of the strangers knew it then, that wouldn't be the last time they saw each other.
More than a coincidence
Three years later Wright’s mother, Judy Wright, began to suffer from complications due to Parkinson’s disease. After she was discharged from the hospital, Chris and his father decided they needed nursing aids at home in order to help take care of her.
One day, Wright’s parents called him to gush about one particular aid who had come to the house, despite not being scheduled to be there.
"My dad called me after she leaves and said, 'Hey, I got a lady that we need to use because for whatever it is, there's something different about her. I feel better when she's in the house and your mom loves her as well,'" Wright recalled to ABC News. So he reached out to the aid and arranged a time to meet.
Wright and Hector found themselves face-to-face again, although they didn’t recognize each other at first. But when Hector recalled the story of the kind man who helped her that rainy day, he couldn’t help but tear up.
"That was me," Chris admitted. They both took off their hats and realized their past connection.
We just cried and had a moment right there.
Chris Wright
In their hearts, they knew the meeting was more than a coincidence. Wright felt as though Hector was a guardian angel sent by God to help his mother during her time of need.
Another life-changing moment
According to Wright, Hector treated his mother with respect, dignity, and care, often going above the call of duty and even stopping by after hours to help her out.
When Judy died on July 9, 2017, Hector left her own birthday celebration in order to be with the Wright family. Then and there they decided to help Hector with her dreams.
They started a fundraising campaign in lieu of flowers with the goal of $1,000. Hector had spoken of wanting to complete nursing school to become an OBGYN nurse, but her tuition was past due and she also had a family to care for. The story caught on, and within 45 minutes the family had reached its goal. Less than a week later the word had spread and the account swelled to $8,000. A few days following that it was at $34,000.
Inspiring others to give back too
The heartwarming story doesn’t stop there. Ellen DeGeneres brought Wright and Hector onto her daytime talk show, where Hector was presented an additional $10,000 and Wright and his father were gifted a golfing trip.
These days Hector is paying it forward by spreading messages of hope on her podcast, Unusual Blessings. She has also written a book of the same name that highlights her life story and all of the people who helped her achieve her dreams.
"I don't know why God chose our two families," Carmen Wright told CBS News. "But she's family. It's like she's known us forever."
It just goes to show you that sometimes what seems like a random act of kindness was always meant to be. Even the smallest acts can make a monumental difference in someone's life, whether it's buying a coffee for that person behind you at the drive-through, letting someone in front of you at the check-out, or gifting someone a small present just to let them know you're thinking of them.
More uplifting stories
- Flight Attendant Finds Passenger’s Baby Crying Out Of Hunger- Steps In With An Outstanding Offer
- Restaurant Manager Catches Homeless Woman’s Happy Dance After Job Interview – And Hires Her
- Man Invites 89-Year-Old Bestie To Live With Him So She Doesn’t End Up In Nursing Home
- Unhoused Man Washes Window’s For $1 To Buy Glasses – Stranger Steps In With The Best Response
woman speaking to another woman sitting opposite herWestpac Banking
elderly couple laughing and drinking coffee outside a restaurant
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.