A Florida utility worker recently went viral after he gave an impromptu performance for an elderly woman sitting alone outside a senior living facility.
As CBS News reported, Sarah Ditmars Cahill’s 94-year-old mother was treated to the sweet serenade as part of her daughter’s efforts to try and brighten her spirits during these difficult times of social distancing amid the coronavirus outbreak.
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Since the outbreak began, Sarah hasn’t been able to get closer than 10 feet to her elderly mom who has dementia.
“Yes, it’s sad, we are very close and I’m an only child… and she has dementia so she doesn’t understand why I can’t come through the gate,” Sarah told CBS , adding that she can only see her mom while she’s sitting outside the living facility with her caregiver.
But even then, Sarah can only interact with her through a gate.
Although stuck behind that gate, Sarah has been making a real effort to cheer up her mom by dancing and singing for her.
A few weeks ago, this devoted daughter was doing her best to brighten her mom’s day when she heard a beautiful singing voice coming from the street behind her.
As it turns out, that voice belonged to Albert Jones, a utility worker for Southeast Connections Gas Company who was singing to himself while completing his work.
Sarah knew at once that this man’s wonderful voice would certainly help boost her mom’s spirits.
“He had his earbuds in and I motioned to him,” she recalled. “He took them out and I said he should come over and sing to mom since he was so much better than me. He was happy to do so!”
In a now-viral video, Albert joined Sarah at the living facility’s gate and serenaded her mom with the song, “His Eye Is On The Sparrow”.
Albert was recorded while he sang and the video was later posted online where it has since gone viral. Even Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman couldn’t resist sharing the adorable clip to his Instagram followers.
“It’s these special moments that remind us that there is so much good in the world,” Jackman captioned the video, which at the time of writing has over 800,000 likes.
Sarah said Albert’s tremendous voice was exactly what her mother needed to hear.
“If you listen carefully you can hear mom singing with him,” she said. “She loves music and is always singing.”
Since the video went viral, Sarah has kept in touch with Albert, learning that he sings in his church and that he also has a nursing home singing ministry.
Last week, when her mom’s 94th birthday rolled around, Sarah knew just how they could celebrate the occasion.
When she asked Albert if he would come sing for her again, he agreed, resulting in yet another heartwarming video, this time of the worker singing “Happy Birthday” to the birthday girl from behind the gate.
“When mom saw him she lit up with a huge smile and was so happy to see him,” Sarah recalled. “She knew his heart, even from the distance.”
Watch the full video here .
Although physical distancing has been tough, Sarah said she’s just happy she can at least bring her mom some joy, even if only from behind a gate.
“I never realized how important physical touch is, with the ones you love,” she said. “I hope that when this virus is over, people will have changed and not wasted this time to reflect, and trust that there are good people everywhere.”
She continued, “This virus has brought us all together and we are fighting for each other. Albert trusts in God, and so do I, and he freely shared his God-given gifts when asked to. We should all be that free to say yes when asked for help.”
h/t: CBS News
