Imagine the surprise and worry Rubin Swift felt as he stood at the Phoenix airport with his newborn daughter, Ru-Andria, only to be told they couldn't board their flight.

Rubin had just gained custody of his daughter and had traveled all the way to Arizona to bring her home. But little did Rubin know, his journey was about to take a remarkable turn.

Rubin's first encounter with his daughter had been at Banner University Medical Center, where he had instantly formed a bond with her. There, he met Joy Ringhofer, a 78-year-old volunteer in the NICU. Joy, who had recently lost her husband, was touched by Rubin's dedication to his daughter, despite the unexpectedness of his new role.

Rubin, already a father to three children and stepfather to four, was surprised when Joy offered her phone number and even a ride to the airport.

On the day of their departure, Rubin faced a significant obstacle. Frontier Airlines required infants to be at least seven days old to fly, and Rubin didn't have proof of Ru-Andria's age. Getting her birth certificate would take too long, leaving Rubin in a difficult situation.

Rubin considered sleeping at the airport, but worried about the safety of himself and his newborn daughter. With no money for a hotel or rental car, he felt stuck. In his moment of desperation, Rubin reached out to Joy, hoping for help. Without hesitation, Joy returned to the airport to pick up Rubin and Ru-Andria, offering them a place to stay.

"I told him, 'I'm going to take you home with me,' so wait right there. There are a lot of dangers out there, but there's a lot of good, too," Joy explained.

Rubin, a deli owner, was deeply moved by Joy's kindness. "I'm a stranger from the Bronx, and she's a great-grandmother who recently lost her husband. She knew very little about me, yet she took me in. Color wasn't an issue to her. She showed me that in this crazy world, there is still compassion," he said.

During the four days they spent together, Rubin, Joy, and Ru-Andria formed a special bond. They went for walks, shopped for groceries, and even visited Joy's late husband's grave.

Rubin found solace in Joy's company, seeing her as a mother or grandmother figure. "I could see the pain in her face from losing her husband, so at the cemetery, as we sat there with the baby, I said, 'Hey, Charles, look — it's your new granddaughter.' We had some touching and wonderful moments," Rubin shared.

When it was time for Rubin and Ru-Andria to return home, they knew they would miss Joy. They promised to stay in touch and regularly connected via FaceTime.

"We started out as strangers, and ended up as good friends," Joy reflected.

Rubin's story is a reminder of the kindness of strangers and the unexpected friendships that can blossom in difficult times.

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(via YOUTUBE - Inside Edition )