James Blair is 64 years old and has been limping for more than a decade.
He served in the United States Navy between 1980 and 1990, and since 2006 has worked as a fuel mechanic at John Wayne Airport in California, dragging knees damaged by years of service. He does not retire because his salary pays for the care of his elderly mother.
A passenger named Lacinda Thackery saw him limp to the plane, her heart broke, and she recorded a video for TikTok asking if anyone knew who that man was. The comments identified him. Without a smartphone or social media, Blair learned about everything through his boss, who drove 90 minutes to his home to help him start a GoFundMe campaign.
Within a few days, more than 6.000 people donated 180.000 dollars. Thackery handed him a check for 174.000. Blair calls her ‘the Angel.’ With part of the money, he bought a new bed. He still has not retired, but he is no longer alone.