Facebook Inspired 70,000 Strangers to Perform Kind Act for Terminally Ill Vet

Thanks to a bunch of kind strangers, one terminally ill veteran isn’t feeling so lonely anymore.

Lee Hernandez is blind and currently in hospice care. The 47-year-old has undergone three brain surgeries after suffering from a series of strokes and now has limited vision and cognitive abilities.

The former veteran was hoping to hear from some friends with encouraging messages and gave his phone to his wife. However, no one bothered to get in touch, leaving Hernandez pretty depressed.

“It broke my heart,” Ernestine Hernandez, Lee’s wife, told Arizona Central. “Lee’s speech is not very well, so many people didn’t take much interest or want to talk to him.”

Ernestine Hernandez then had a genius idea to cheer her husband up. She posted a message to the Caregivers of Wounded Warriors Facebook page and asked them for some help. She left Lee’s phone number and said people should call, text, or leave him a message when they could.

“They are an excellent support group of wives and ladies who know the struggles of what we go through,” Ernestine Hernandez said to Arizona Central.

Shortly after Ernestine Hernandez wrote her message on Facebook, her post went viral. The short message really connected with a bunch of people. Lee’s phone has not stopped ringing with messages filled with kind words.

“A lot of people call to pray with him. It really uplifts him,” Ernestine Hernandez said to Arizona Central.

On top of the phone calls, Hernandez received thousands of text messages and cards. His wife reads every single message out loud to him.

“Thank you everyone for your calls and support. I am trying to give him the best life I am able to with the help of my mom,” Ernestine Hernandez said to Arizona Central.

Lee Hernandez is still receiving messages to his phone. If you want to cheer him up, Ernestine Hernandez recommends calling between 2 and 6 p.m. Arizona time. You can send the messages to 210-632-6778.

“The experience is very painful, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Ernestine Hernandez said to Arizona Central.