This 31-year-old model invites his ailing 91-year-old neighbor to live with him to take care of her

58 years of difference separate Chris Salvatore, a dashing young man of 31 years, and Norma Cook, a charming old lady of 89 years. However, a strong friendship has bound them for many years. These two are best friends despite a big age difference which is clearly just a number.

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Here it all starts

It was in 2013, when he moved to West Hollywood, California, that Chris, an actor and singer by profession, met his neighbor Norma, a retired interior designer. Until then, this old lady lived alone with her cat Hermes. The young man’s apartment was just across from Norma’s. After unpacking his boxes, Chris decided to go introduce himself to his new neighbors.

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The Friendship Cup

When it came time to get to know Norma, Chris decided to ask her if he might come in for a chat. The charming old lady immediately invited him to drink a glass of champagne. Chris and Norma sympathize and the current passes immediately between them. Later, Chris shared that he knew from that moment that they would become great friends together. As the young man would later reveal in an interview with The Today Show, he recalled their very first meeting: “She seemed so nice, she gave me a glass of champagne, and that’s how our friendship was born. »

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Un duo improbable

A certainly improbable, but beautiful and solid friendship that binds the two neighbors and friends. Norma and Chris have a lot in common despite their age difference, they have the same tastes in literature, cinema and television. They share many activities, and this is how they spend most of their time discussing fashion and food together. The two friends also love cooking together while having long talks.

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The beginning of the end

Unfortunately, the old lady’s health had deteriorated over time. In fact, Norma, who has leukemia, had been battling the disease since she was diagnosed ten years ago. All these years, she had to go to the hospital sometimes up to six times a year to receive her treatments. But when her doctor unfortunately announces to her that she only has a few months left to live, the brave lady, worn out and already weakened by the heavy treatments for her illness, makes a radical decision; she refuses to undergo other treatments, nor does she want to be placed in a care facility for frail people.

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fragile and alone

But this decision by Norma is not without consequence. His health will decline cruelly, and the news is not reassuring since by stopping all treatment, his life expectancy will be reduced to two months. Her doctor is adamant she needed 24/7 care. The catch is that Norma had been living on her own since her divorce at the age of 43, and she had no as a child, nor did she have family in the area.

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Just generosity

This is where Chris decides to step in, especially since Norma’s care was not covered by his insurance. Also, at first, the young man racks his brains to find a way to help Norma. He then finds a practical solution, and sets up a kitty on the internet, “GoFundMe”, which will allow him to raise the necessary funds to help him pay for home care. This is how, thanks to the kind contribution of generous donors on the internet, Chris was able to collect more than €70,000.

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A true earthly angel

Then, Chris will offer to take care of the one he considers his grandmother at heart. For him, it is impossible to bring himself to leave Norma alone. After all, she herself considers him her grandson. The empathetic young man will then take his “granny” under his wing and only one month following having collected the necessary funds, he decides to bring Norma to live with him in his apartment. Although he didn’t have the skills of a qualified nurse, Chris had all the human skills required to care for Norma. Because the priority for him was to make sure that she might live out her last days in comfort and in good company.

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It’s time to say goodbye

Unfortunately, the days are numbered for the old lady and Norma does not have much time left to live. Caught up by her illness, it was on a very sad and dark day in February 2017 that Norma passed away. Shocked and devastated, Chris shared the heartbreaking news on his Instagram account, where he enjoyed sharing their moments of simple joys and daily happiness with Norma. It was with tears in his eyes that the young man confided: “She called me the grandson she never had. She was a beautiful person. She changed the world with her big heart and her ability to speak with anyone, regardless of age,” continued the young man, very moved. With Norma gone, Chris’ world has been turned upside down.

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A last wish

As for the old lady, her ultimate will was respected before she left for a better world. She wanted to spend her last days with her beloved grandson Chris and her wish was granted. The young man will always hold a special place in his memory and in his heart, he believes that meeting Norma has been a wonderful thing in his life and revealed during an interview that he had been incredibly lucky to have met his way. Because thanks to Norma, Chris has become a better person: “She changed my life, she made me a kinder and more compassionate person. It’s an honor for me to be with her until the end. Despite the passage of time, Chris continues to regularly pay tribute to his great friend. That’s how he posted a video of their happy days on social media, with a caption that read, “We were complete strangers with years between us, but we were still able to love each other despite everything. our differences. “A very nice message which perfectly sums up this extraordinary friendship which bound two beings whom nothing however predestined at the start to approach, and it is there that lies all the magic of this fabulous meeting.

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10/10 SLIDES