Georgia Nurse Adopts Autistic Homeless Man to Help him Get Treatment

Lori Wood and Jonathan Pinkard

27-year-old Jonathan Pinkard spent four months in the hospital as a result of medical difficulties related to his need for a heart transplant. Pinkard has autism, so his grandmother had recently served as his guardian. However, she passed away recently, and Pinkard's mother was in a rehab facility. As a result, Pinkard's nurse decided that she would help.

Lori Wood offered Pinkard a place to stay and serves as his guardian now, which was necessary for him to be able to undergo the heart transplant. Without a support system to make sure he was taking the necessary medication, the transplant would fail.

“At some point, God places people in situations in your life, and you have a choice to do something about it,” Wood said to the Washington Post. “For me, there was no choice. I’m a nurse; I had an extra room. It was not something I struggled with. He had to come home with me.”

Wood and the Georgia medical system did not devalue Pinkard because of his disability like so many medical systems in other countries might. We hope that Pinkard continues to be successful in his recovery and can eventually find the independence he deserves.

Click here to read more.