Grieving father unexpectedly comforted by toddler while delivering pizza. It's beautiful.

In West Warwick, Rhode Island, a simple act of kindness from a toddler became a profound moment of comfort for a grieving father. Lindsey Sheely had ordered a pizza for her family on a Saturday night when her 2-year-old son, Cohen, decided to chase after the delivery man, Ryan Catterson, and give him a hug. What seemed like a small gesture turned out to be a significant emotional moment for Ryan, who had recently lost his 16-year-old daughter, according to ABC7 New York.

The touching incident was captured by the family's doorbell camera. As Ryan was walking back to his car, Cohen ran up to him, wrapped his tiny arms around Ryan, and blew kisses. The video, shared by Sheely on Facebook, quickly went viral, warming the hearts of many.

Sheely was later contacted by Ryan, who shared the heartbreaking news that his daughter had passed away unexpectedly just the previous week. Ryan told WLNE-TV, "After losing my daughter this past week, it touched me because it was like she was there. It really just meant a lot to me."

Reflecting on the incident, Sheely said, "I believe in divine appointments and know that Ryan was the one to deliver our pizza for a reason." She described Cohen's hug as a "blessing from God" and noted the importance of small acts of kindness.

Ryan’s ex-wife, Danielle McCord, echoed this sentiment, explaining that the hug was a lesson in empathy. "It's so easy to miss people and their internal pain. Even with our daughter, we didn't know her pain. I can't help but be grateful that someone saw his pain and could be there for him," she said.

As the mom described, the heartwarming scene touched many people. Her Facebook post received over 517,000 views, and the story was also shared in Reddit’s r/MadeMeSmile group, where it garnered 16,000 upvotes and 260 comments. After the story went viral, the family created a GoFundMe page to help cover the funeral expenses for Ryan’s daughter, raising a little more than $30,000.

This touching story reminds us of the power of empathy and the impact that even the smallest gestures can have on someone’s life.

This article was originally published on February 24, 2020. It has since been updated.