There are times in life where paths cross and rarely is it ever without a reason. The people we meet are often placed in front of us for a purpose, whether it be a friendship or a lesson. And sometimes it’s both.

Such was the case for Brooke O’Briant of Alabama when she crossed paths with an elderly man named Mr. Hudson.

As the marketing director at North River Village Retirement Community, she received a call from the local hospital one day introducing her to the man’s situation. They requested her presence at the hospital and explained to her the man was in need. He was in need of love. And she quickly found out how prepared she was to give it to him.

The hospital explained that Mr. Hudson was dwelling in subpar living conditions and needed assistance. O’Briant took the opportunity to take him beneath her wing and bring him back to the Retirement Community.

She revealed on Love What Matters:

“It all started on December 20, 2018. I got a call from our local hospital about an older gentleman who wasn’t in the best of living situations and needed assistance. This precious gentleman was Mr. Nathaniel Hudson. Little did I know, an unbelievably special friendship was being formed. Little did I know, the good Lord was crossing my path with this kind soul to not only impact his life but mine as well.”

She toured Mr. Hudson around the facilities, to which he was delighted. In fact, he didn’t want to leave! During this time O’Briant could feel a bond surely growing between the two.

They saw one another clearly. She found out a lot of details about him, formulating just how amazing of a life he had lived and how precious of a person he truly was.

When Mr. Hudson became an official resident of the community O’Briant stepped up to make the man as comfortable as she possibly could.

“He was so excited! So many precious employees and sponsors at my facility pitched in to donate bedding, decor, and other items for his new place. I felt so good knowing he was in a safe, clean place with three meals a day, nurses making sure he took his medications, and new friendships to lift his spirits. Over the following 12 months, Mr. Hudson and I became close buddies. He didn’t have any family in the picture, so I gladly stepped up to be a daughter to him.”

And the man didn’t hesitate to call her his ‘daughter’. Their bond was pure and sweet. O’Briant became awfully fond of the gentleman.

She delighted in offering him a better life as he delighted in her company. Quickly they became one another’s family. They did activities together, had meaningful conversations, and attended church together every week.

Yet things took a turn. As months progressed, Mr. Hudson’s health slowly began to decline.

One day they received the news together, it was cancer. Decisions would soon have to be made.

O’Briant revealed:

“We were all devastated when we got the news. During a hospital stay the staff started asking him questions about nursing homes and end of life care and he said, ‘I’m not making any decisions without Brooke.’ In another nurse’s note, he said, ‘Brooke is my everything.'”

Mr. Hudson passed away in his sleep at age 94. He left behind his daughter and his angel, Brooke O’Briant.

Although filled with sadness, she also knew that he had transcended to a better place, pain-free. She knew she would see her buddy again. Brooke revealed to to the local radio station that her chance meeting with Mr. Hudson taught her many lessons.

“She learned to be more aware of the needs of others. She learned that perhaps we all need to slow down. She learned that the Lord used her as a vessel to minister to Mr. Hudson. She learned that she has never met a person as kind and as decent as the man she knew for only sixteen months.”

To help with funeral expenses O’Briant created a Go Fund Me page. She wants to make sure that Mr. Hudson receives a proper veteran’s funeral. The fundraiser is currently active and she has so far surpassed her goal.

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Sources: Spotlight Stories, Facebook/Brooke O’Briant, Love What Matters