Cuban grandma stranded at US airport felt utterly lost — until a stranger asked her a question

Norma had been visiting her sick child in the US and was flying back to Cuba with a layover in Miami. She didn’t speak English and had no contacts in the area, so when her flight was delayed overnight, she broke down in tears at the gate. Luckily, Reddit user u/musesx9's husband was also waiting at the airport. He noticed the 70-year-old in deep distress and took it upon himself to solve her problems. The incident, chronicled in a post shared on July 24, has gained over 3,000 upvotes so far.

He guided her through the airport’s confusion, offering comfort and assistance. When she said she was going to sleep at the airport, he called home to ask if she could stay the night. "He told me her story, and we felt so bad for her. I moved my daughter from her bed, remade the bed with new sheets, and had some hot food waiting for them," the user wrote. Norma cried again when she walked into their home. The next morning, the family made her breakfast, got in touch with her relatives in New Jersey, and drove her back to the airport in time for her early flight. They even sent a small amount of money to her family in Cuba. Days later, an email arrived, thanking them for taking care of a woman they feared might have been lost in a foreign city, alone.

For the user, the moment grew far more personal since her own late mother was also named Norma. "I think of her often and hope she is okay. A lot has changed since that night," she wrote. Stories like this show how helping others in small, meaningful ways often has a bigger impact than we realize. In a 2022 study in The Journal of Positive Psychology, participants who performed three random acts of kindness on two days every week experienced higher life satisfaction and stronger social connections compared to groups doing planned social activities or cognitive reappraisal exercises.

The story hit home for many readers, and they expressed their gratitude towards the selfless act. u/NotMyCircuits said, "Lovely gesture. Being stranded anywhere that doesn't speak my native language is a fear of mine. Thank you for reaching out with kindness." u/ImaginationTop5390 wrote, "Angels are everywhere. You and your husband were hers. Thank you for being so kind and selfless." u/everelusiveone commented, "These are the types of interactions that renew my faith in humanity. Sending you love and a big hug." u/GarnetAndOpal noted, "What a lovely family you have. The poor woman must have felt so desperate and alone. Your family saved her from that. It's a wonderful memory."

Some shared their own stories. u/Sweetcornprincess recalled, "My mom once helped an elderly lady navigate the airport. Turns out she was a very talented ceramicist and sent my mother a beautiful hand-thrown vase in thanks." u/tkhamphant1 added, "Beautiful story. My son is in the US Navy, and we have had a few strangers come for holidays and just to spend the night, as we live near two bases." u/NewRiver3157 quipped, "My grandmother once got friendly with a couple on a train trip. They invited her in for a couple of days while the track was washed out. Chicago was home for them. She was headed to the East Coast. I believe she started in Seattle. I, too, believe in offering asylum to the abuelas everywhere. Angel work."