{"id":214416,"date":"2019-12-02T10:45:19","date_gmt":"2019-12-02T16:45:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=214416"},"modified":"2019-12-02T00:37:58","modified_gmt":"2019-12-02T06:37:58","slug":"nurse-homeless-autistic-life-saving-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/nurse-homeless-autistic-life-saving-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Nurse takes in homeless autistic man so he can get life-saving treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Jonathan Pinkard, a 27-year-old autistic man, was working as an office clerk and living at a men’s shelter for the homeless in Georgia when his health suddenly took a turn for the worst and he needed a heart transplant. His mother was in a rehab facility, and his grandmother — who had been his guardian — had passed away, leaving him with no support network, which meant he couldn’t get the transplant he needed. That was when ICU nurse Lori Wood stepped in and saved his life through an act of compassion.<\/p>\n

Pinkard was in the hospital for four months after learning he needed a heart transplant, and Wood was assigned as his nurse. When she realized his situation, she made an extraordinary offer: he could move in with her, and she would become his guardian. “At some point, God places people in situations in your life, and you have a choice to do something about it,\u201d she said to the Washington Post<\/a>. \u201cFor me, there was no choice. I\u2019m a nurse; I had an extra room. It was not something I struggled with. He had to come home with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pinkard, who had nothing but a cell phone, now has a place to live, and someone he calls “Mama” to help take care of him. He received his transplant in August, and Wood drives him to his appointments and makes sure he takes his medications. \u201cBefore I even get out of the car, he’s right there, hollering, ‘Hey, Mama!’ and wanting a hug,\u201d she said, adding that she hopes to help him become more independent eventually. “He\u2019s welcome to stay here as long as he wants to, but I also know that he deserves to have his own life. So at some point, when he\u2019s ready, we\u2019re going to try to make that happen.”<\/p>\n

As for Pinkard, he’s happy to have his new family. \u201cI feel like I\u2019m one of her sons,\u201d he said. \u201cAll I can say is, \u2018Thank you, Mama Lori. Thank you. I love you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n