Her husband was dying. One call to his favorite Nando’s made it an unforgettable day
Ava Littau, one of the Nando's employees, took the call, and it became one she would never forget.
It’s a privilege to be remembered by a person in their final moments and be involved in granting them one of their last wishes. A man named Al Wisley had been through much before accepting that his last days were nearing, reported 12 News on January 28. He called up the Nando's Mexican Cafe with a request for a good Mexican meal, and the conversation is one the staff will remember for a long time. Having been a loyal customer at their Gilbert outlet, the man wanted to place one last order. The staff was honored to prepare the meal and have it delivered to his home with a special gesture that left Al and his wife, Roberta, in tears.
Over the last few years, Al had struggled with health complications, including diabetes, foot amputations, pancreatitis, and kidney failure. He had been through his share of pain and knew he wouldn’t make it for long. Over the last few days, he took time out to call loved ones and say goodbye, embracing his death with courage and love. Last Saturday night, he called the local Nando’s, requesting an order. Ava Littau, one of the employees, took the call, and it became one she would never forget. When she took down Al’s order, she asked whether he’d pick it up. The man replied, “Oh no, honey, I can't pick it up. I'm going to die. I'm bed-bound.”
The employee was caught off guard by his response, but his voice revealed that he was serious. “Something in his voice, just maybe something spoke to me. And I was like, ‘He's not joking,’” the woman recalled. She then decided that she would make his final days better. “It’s up to us to make sure we do something about it, just to give him a smile or something, anything you know,” Littau said. She got together a team to create the complimentary order just as Al wanted it, and added a special note along with it. The meal was delivered as instructed, but the entire next day, Al was low, and Roberta feared the worst.
She saw the note that read, “Mr. Wilsey, we thank you for your loyalty throughout your years. We are saddened to hear about your situation. We wish you the best; you will be in our prayers. Dinner is on us. Love, Nando's family.” She burst into tears, moved by the empathy from the staff. She only hoped for one thing — that her husband would be able to enjoy the meal he wanted. He didn’t seem to be doing well and was asleep most of the time, and Roberta thought he wouldn’t be able to eat the meal. But some power in kindness came through, and the man made it to the next morning to have his meal.
“Oh, he loved it. He absolutely loved it. He was there with his mouth wide open because I was feeding it to him,” the woman noted. That meal became Al’s last meal. Though Roberta was in the middle of raw, fresh, shattering grief, that one act of comfort that brought fulfillment to her husband became strength to her. “It was such a good reminder that there are good people in this world. And I… just couldn't believe it," she said. As for Nando’s, they believe they were just doing what anyone should have. Kayla Bracamonte, the restaurant's assistant general manager, said, “This is what Nando’s stands for, giving back to the community… any way we can help, like our answer is always going to be yes.”
Data from NIHCM revealed that chronic illnesses are the leading cause of death, affecting around half of the population in the United States. 6 in 10 Americans have at least one chronic disease, and eight chronic illnesses are reported among the leading causes of death. This also includes kidney disease, like Al. A study published revealed that a lot of people who are nearing their final days due to a life-limiting illness have last wishes like traveling, a vacation, to do something special and personal, an activity that they love, or even to inspire others and strengthen their own. Out of 361 people surveyed, 67% had a last wish and listed them under the aforementioned themes. If it is in our hands to provide comfort while fulfilling these wishes, it will mean more than one could ever imagine.
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