Life has a way of surprising us when we least expect it. This story, which began with a simple pizza delivery, turned into a moment of profound comfort for a man grieving the loss of his daughter.
It all started when Lindsey Sheely, a mother from West Warwick, Rhode Island, ordered pizza for her family. As she went to collect the delivery, her two-year-old son, Cohen, followed her outside. When the delivery man arrived, Cohen did something that melted everyone’s hearts—he ran up to the man and hugged him. The delivery man, Ryan Catterson, was surprised but delighted by the little boy’s gesture and hugged him back. Lindsey, touched by the moment, shared the video captured by her doorbell camera on social media, hoping to spread a little positivity.
What Lindsey didn’t know at the time was how much that hug meant to Ryan. After the video gained attention online, Ryan reached out to Lindsey, asking if he could share the footage. As Lindsey looked into his story, she discovered that Ryan had recently lost his 16-year-old daughter, Alyssa. The hug from Cohen had come at a time when Ryan was struggling with immense grief. He later shared that the moment felt like a sign from his daughter, a small but meaningful comfort during a painful time.
Lindsey was deeply moved by Ryan’s story. She described the encounter as a “little blessing from God,” believing that Ryan’s presence at their doorstep that night was no accident. Ryan, too, felt that the moment was special, telling reporters that it felt like the universe—or perhaps his daughter—had sent him a message of love and support.
This story is a powerful reminder of the impact we can have on each other’s lives, often without even realizing it. As Lindsey said, “You never know what people are going through.” A simple hug from a child brought a moment of peace to a grieving father, showing us all the importance of kindness and connection.
