Do you know your neighbor well enough to invite them over or even to live with you? This was a question Chris Salvatore faced when he moved in across the hall from 85-year-old Norma Cook and her cat, Hermes, in 2013. Despite just exchanging hellos at first, Salvatore and Cook became fast friends after he introduced himself.
Their friendship flourished so much that when Cook’s health began to decline, and she needed constant care, Salvatore, a 31-year-old actor, asked her to move in. With no family nearby and no children of her own, Cook was at a loss when she was told she couldn’t return home from the hospital without constant care. Salvatore set up a GoFundMe page for her and, after testing a few caretakers, realized the only other option was for Cook to go into a facility, which he couldn’t bear the thought of. So, he invited her to live with him.
“I’m so happy I was able to give her this gift of living her last days at home,” Salvatore said on the GoFundMe page. “I can’t imagine what it’s like to go through the end of your life at a hospital without your friends or pets.”
Cook and Salvatore made excellent roommates. They spent their days watching the news, talking, drinking Champagne, and eating peanuts. Cook even referred to Salvatore as the grandson she never had.
Unfortunately, on February 15, 2017, Cook passed away, leaving Salvatore heartbroken. He shared the news on Instagram, where he had been posting updates of their adventures together.
Salvatore didn’t have to help Cook in any way, but he couldn’t bear the thought of her spending her final days in a hospital without someone who loved her. Their heartwarming story reminds us all to be more like Salvatore and lend a helping hand to those in need.
So, how well do you know your neighbor? Perhaps it’s time to say hello and start building a friendship that could make a world of difference.