You know when they say good things happen when you least expect it? That’s exactly what this Ohio man experienced. What he thought was just a quick visit to Phoenix, turned out to be somewhat of a memorable one.
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He had just gone through a long custody battle for his daughter. So when he was given the okay signal to get her, he immediately hopped on a flight to meet his baby. But he didn’t know there was about to be a slight hiccup to his plan.
A Rough Start
Couples battling for child support and custody are so common these days. It’s like nothing ever goes right. It’s also become quite a normal thing to a lot of couples as they go through indifferences in their relationship.
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Rubin Swift was no exception to this. He went through a lot just to get to his precious daughter, Ru-Andria. According to Rubin, both him and his daughter’s mother were at odds even before she was born. This was very difficult for him to go through.
Custody Battle
Because of the arduous journey he had to go through, he was all the more excited to pick up his daughter. As soon as he won the battle for custody, he immediately booked a flight to Phoenix. He didn’t have much but at least his daughter was waiting for him.
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So he booked a flight and was expecting to return to Ohio in a day or two. Little did he know, another problem was about to arise. He wasn’t done fighting yet. And this time, he was not going to fight it alone.
Hiccup At The Airport
Rubin was ready to start anew. He was excited to begin this new chapter of his life with his baby girl and the rest of his kids and wife back home in Cleveland. Things were finally looking up. Or so he thought.
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He went to the hospital thinking it was just that simple. His daughter was being cared for by a volunteer named Joy Ringhofer when he came in. He never expected things to turn out for the worse as soon as he entered the Phoenix airport.
Complications
The baby was safely cradled in his arms all throughout the journey to the airport. It was just a few more hours until he could be with his wife and kids plus the new baby. He hurriedly got off the cab and went straight in.
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As soon as he lined up to board the plane he booked, he was told some bad news. Frontier, his airline at the time, stopped him on his tracks. He knew he had all the right documentations, but why was this happening?
A Father’s Love
When Frontier stopped Rubin from boarding, he was confused. He knew he had all the right paperworks from the hospital. Even before he left the hospital, they even provided clearance that his baby was okay to fly.
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According to Frontier’s policy, it states that they will only allow babies to fly when they’re at least seven days old. Ru-Andria, the baby, was only 4 days old. He was three days away. But he had another problem.
Three More Days
As soon as Rubin heard this news, he immediately was distraught. He knew he needed a safe place to stay for the sake of the baby. However, there was one immediate problem. he didn’t have any more time to waste.
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Rubin didn’t have money left. He knew he couldn’t book a hotel and he didn’t have money to rent a car to drive to Cleveland. He thought about staying at the airport and sleeping there but there would have repercussions. Police would immediately be called if he did that and he’s be charged with abuse.
Don’t Know What To Do
Rubin was desperate for an answer to his current dilemma. All of his other options were no-can-do’s. It was such a time-sensitive issue. He was stuck and he knew that he needed a solution to it as soon as possible.
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At first, he thought maybe he could have someone edit his child’s birth certificate to make it look like she was seven days old. This plan would get him on that plane. But there was one problem. He needed participation from the hospital staff.
No Other Option
He tried to get in touch with the hospital and explain his current dilemma. He also told the administrative staff about his one-off plan. He had so much hope that it would work. But much to his expectation, they would not let him do it.
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They didn’t even let him finish because as soon as they heard half of what they plan was, they immediately declines. If they were to grant him this, it would jeopardize their work ethics. It just couldn’t be done. Rubin knew he was out of time and especially, money.
Running Out Of Time
What made things harder for Rubin was that he wasn’t from the state at all. He did not know anyone other than his ex. And he wasn’t about to create more issues out of the custody battle just by asking her for help.
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He knew was running out of time. He was wandering around the hospital looking for people who can help him with a baby in his arms. He was growing more tired and helpless every minute that passes. The clock was slowly ticking.
A Ray Of Hope
When Ru-Andria was born, her cuteness was undeniable to most of the nursing staff. She grabbed the attention of all the other nurses on duty. She was a great baby to handle because she was quiet and just loved to feed all of the time.
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Banner University opens its doors to volunteers who are able to bring comfort to babies in the neonatal unit. One notable volunteer had been caring for Ru-Andria from the very first day she was born. Her name was Joy Ringhofer.
What A Joy
Joy has always had a heart for helping people in need. Ever since losing her husband a few months prior, she has devoted most of her time volunteering at the hospital. She felt that it was her mission to help out these babies.
Joy Ringhofer/Facebook
Ru-Andria was such a cooperative baby at the NICU, that Joy has had a fondness for her. When Rubin first stepped foot inside the hospital and saw his baby girl, she was cradled in Joy’s arms. Instantly, both him and Joy formed a connection.
That Faithful Call
Rubin was so appreciative of Joy when they first met that Joy took a liking to the young man. She gave her name and phone number to him so he could call her should there be a need. Rubin found this strange but he still accepted the kind gesture, though expecting that he won’t really be needing it.
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You know when sometimes fate has other plans for you? Yeah, kind of like what was happening to him at that moment. He remembered Joy and he immediately tried to reach out to her. But her phone just kept on ringing.
Desperate Times
Rubin knew he needed help more than ever at this point of his life. He was so far from home and there wasn’t anybody he knew. He was desperate for Joy to answer his call. As it kept on ringing, so was Ru-Andria’s tantrum accelerating.
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He was all alone and without anyone to help him. So to seek someone who just offered him help was something like a last resort. He was about to give up all hope when Joy answered after what felt like a lifetime.
Finally, An Answer
He was pacing back and forth, confused and frustrated. As soon as Rubin heard Joy’s voice on the phone, he breathed a sigh of relief. He knew he needed to go straight to the point and just say what needed to be said.
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Joy immediately knew who it was. She was delighted to hear from the young man whose baby she adored so much back at the nursery. But they would then have to discuss what Rubin had to say next to her.
Without Conditions
Rubin didn’t hesitate to tell her about his plight at the airport right before boarding. He was apologetic towards her that he had to call her for this favor. He also told her he was running out of options, so he called her instead.
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Joy happily gave help to Rubin. She didn’t place any conditions or limitations because she genuinely knew that she had to help him. She told him to hang tight and that she’ll take her home. This surprised Rubin, of course.
Light And Hope
When Rubin made that call to Joy, he had only expected so little. He didn’t even expect her to pick up some unknown call. It was already such a disappointing day that he already prepared himself for more grief. But she offered with no hesitation.
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At first, he thought that she would offer to solve the airline crisis that he was already facing. But instead, she wanted to take them home until they were able to fly out again. It was only a matter of three more days.
One Good Gesture
Hoping for only one night of rest, Rubin only expected that much from the stranger that was picking him up. He was glad for the help regardless of however small it was. He just needed to regroup himself and start trying again tomorrow.
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But Joy on the other hand, had other plans. According to her, she had this deep sense that she needed to help this man. She knew that Rubin was a good soul and that he would do the same should she ever ask him for help. And so she did just that.
A Place To Rest
Joy offered her home to a complete stranger. One she did not even know until that same day but she trusted that Rubin was a kind man. Her need to help this man outweighed everything else. Not a single doubt was cast.
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She treated Rubin like a son and Ru-Andria like a granddaughter. She gave the father and daughter a place to rest and food to eat until they could fly back home. Her kindness was the turning point of this whole story.
Unconventional Family
Since first meeting at the hospital, Joy and Rubin’s bond over Ru-Andria was unmistakable. The two immediately formed a unique camaraderie. And Rubin was thankful for this complete stranger who offered love to his little one.
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Unlike many other people these days, Joy was not looking for a return favor. She did this out of her passion for taking care of others. She’s such a one-of-a-kind person these days that we need more of her.
A Simple Request
While Joy was happy helping out Rubin, she then had a simple request. She didn’t do this because there was a need to repay her, but this was something very important to her. She knew the kind of person Rubin was by instinct and she knew he’d help out no matter what.
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Rubin was ready and willing to offer help to her. Because of the generosity she showed him and his baby daughter, he was willing to do anything to show Joy his gratitude. But what was that she wanted from him?
The Flowers That Bloom
Joy didn’t hesitate to ask for help from Rubin. She asked him to help her find and arrange flowers for her late husband that died months prior. She reckons with someone strong enough to help her with cleaning up the grave, this was the best time.
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She had adult children but all of them were busy with their own lives and kids. So, she never really had anyone help her with the task. With Rubin, she was able to do this and this became something they would never forget.
Rubin’s Contribution
During his short stay, Rubin made sure he was doing everything right. While Joy took care of feeding both him and the baby, he took care of other tasks at home. He also made it a point to make sure Joy’s visit to her husband’s grave was comfortable and supported.
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Because of this personal connection they had, there was a deep connection that would last a lifetime. Rubin lost her mother to cancer back in 2007, so having a mother figure like Joy was a breath of fresh air. He also reckons that she’s Ru-Andria’s grandmother now.
Protective Mother
Their departure day finally came. It was an emotional one as Joy and Rubin had already grown a fondness for each other like mother and son. But Rubin knew he had to go home because his family and Ru-Andria’s brothers and sisters were eagerly waiting for her.
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Joy drove them to the airport but she didn’t stop at the drop off section. She accompanied Rubin to the airline counter and demanded refund. She made sure that Rubin got the refund for the flight he missed last time. She was as ruthless as she was kind.
Swift Solution
Joy meant business when she complained about compensation for the inconvenience the airline caused. Because of this, the airline knew they had to meet that complaint with an immediate solution. Rubin was there witnessing it all.
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Frontier Airlines apologized immediately as this whole fiasco had already caught media attention. Not only were they going to refund him and book him another flight, but it also came with a surprise upgrade. He was bumped up a class in his flight back to Cleveland.
Way Back Home
Before Rubin boarded the flight, he always knew he was going to come back and he promised her. He made not only a friend but gained a family in Joy. He promised her he would visit soon and bring the baby with him.
Rubin Swift/Facebook
When he boarded the flight, he was excited to be back home in Cleveland. His wife and the rest of their kids were waiting for him and the new addition to their already large family. It was only a matter of time before the plane lands.
Pleasant Surprise
Even from miles away, Rubin wanted to thank Joy endlessly for everything she did for him and his baby. They kept in touch but that wasn’t enough. He wanted to really show her that he was thankful and that she was a godsend to him.
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A few weeks after they arrived back home, Joy came home to a fresh and stunning bouquet of flowers. When she approached the bouquet, she noticed a card attached to it. It was a note from Rubin and there he thanked her for being so kind during a time when he needed it the most.
Inspiration And Hope For Humanity
During her interview with People, Joy expressed her sentiment over the whole thing. “We just knew that we’d always be in touch from that day forward,” she says. Both of them now chat regularly via FaceTime with Rubin and his family. “We started out as strangers and ended up as good friends. Rubin is very grateful to me, but I’m also very grateful to have had the opportunity.”
Rubin Swift/Facebook
On the other hand, Rubin hopes that their unique story will help inspire others to help without asking for anything in return. “If you see an elderly person struggling to walk home, pull over and offer a lift,” he tells PEOPLE. “If you see somebody who doesn’t have enough money for bus fare, offer to help them out. Pay it forward — that’s what I’m taking away from this. Let’s return to a time when we all cared about one another. That’s what I’m hoping will happen.”