An 88-year-old Army veteran is finally preparing for the retirement he lost more than a decade ago, thanks to an extraordinary wave of generosity from strangers online.

Ed Bambas saw his life upended in 2012 when the company he worked for went bankrupt, wiping out both his pension and his health insurance. Around the same time, his wife became seriously ill. To cover her care, Ed sold their home, and after her passing seven years ago, he returned to full-time work simply to stay afloat. Until recently, he was still stocking shelves during eight-hour shifts at a supermarket outside Detroit.

His story reached influencer Samuel Weidenhofer, known for highlighting everyday acts of kindness. After a nomination from a viewer, Samuel flew from Australia to Michigan and—alongside local creator Mike McKinstry—tracked Ed down. Their emotional meeting, captured on video, revealed the quiet hardship behind Ed’s continued labor. Samuel handed him a $400 tip on the spot and launched a GoFundMe to help him retire at last.

Within days, donations soared past $1.5 million, including a single $10,000 gift.

Ed told WXYZ that the sudden attention “came out of the clear blue.” He admitted he’s never used TikTok or Instagram and still relies on a simple flip phone. Speaking of his late wife, he grew emotional, sharing that daily visits to her gravesite help him through each day.

Samuel says the overwhelming response exceeded anything he imagined: “I just wanted to give him a chance to retire—some comfort. The support has been incredible.”