An 81-year-old Texas delivery driver running on grit to help pay his wife's medical bills is in for one hell of a financial gift to the tune of over $300K, thanks to the kindness of strangers.
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Don Johnson routinely worked 14-hour days, delivering late or misplaced luggage to travelers' homes for an airport. According to Dallas outlet NBC 5, he began asking for more hours, putting his vehicle through the wringer with major wear and tear.
At the time, the Texan didn't think much of it.
"You just have to get that grit and prayer and go through and get to the other side," Don told NBC 5 earlier this week. "It takes you a moment to adjust, but then you just carry on."
Don Johnson would drive as far as Oklahoma for deliveries.
However, a routine luggage delivery in the Dallas-Fort Worth area changed the man's fortune in the literal sense.
Erin Howell noticed the elderly man, who was raising medical funds for his ailing wife of 57 years, Josephine, as she battles cancer, lifting two large luggage parcels up the stairs of her apartment complex through sheer force of will.
"I'm lugging the luggage up the stairs, and it was extremely heavy, and I guess I was making a lot of noise as I was dropping it on the steps; I'm not sure. But this lady came out that I had never seen before," Don recalled.
Howell offered to help Don with the luggage and struck up a conversation. He mentioned his ailing wife, how he'd moved in with his children to cut costs, and the grit-driven work hours he pulled, hoping to cover the medical expenses.
Deciding to be more than a thoughtful listener, Howell was inspired to take action. She launched a GoFundMe for Don and Josephine Johnson, called "HelpDonRetire."
"The other day, my door cam caught an 81-year-old man slowly and painstakingly carrying my heavy luggage that had been lost on a recent flight up a steep flight of stairs," Howell began on the fundrasier's page. "He looked absolutely exhausted, and his steps were heavy with effort."
"It completely broke my heart to see a man of his age doing such intense, grueling physical labor. The reality is that he isn't working by choice; he is working for survival," she added.
Don's story hit home, quickly gaining momentum. As of this writing, the fundraising campaign has raised nearly $320,000, with over 6,000 people donating.
"I left and thought I'd never see [Howell] again. And it was an amazing thing she did for me, for us," Don told NBC 5. "I'm still stunned that people responded. I wasn't expecting any response," Josephine added.
Meanwhile, the GoFundMe hit at the perfect time. Don's car started to have some problems running, forcing him to cut back on hours.
"It restores my faith in people," Johnson continued. "For her to do that was a miracle. We didn't ask for it, but it helps so much, and I look forward to the day that I can help people just like I'm being helped now."
Don also figures his days of delivering luggage in Texas and beyond may be winding down.
"I think I'm going to be able to stop working, and that's amazing," Don later told KDFW. "So we're not quite totally over the hump yet, but we're getting there very quickly.
