The photo of a New Jersey man expressing his gratitude through a cardboard sign, for the nurses and local hospital workers who saved his wife’s life, surfaced on social media last week. 

The unidentified man held up a handmade cardboard sign with his hand on his heart through the windows of the emergency department at Morristown Medical Center. The heartwarming sign read: “Thank you all in emergency for saving my wife’s life; I love you all.”

The picture warmed the hearts of many as it spread across social media. Senior Public Relations Manager at Morristown Medical Center, Karen Zatorski, who was present when the man displayed  his gratitude and appreciation, told The Daily Record: “We don’t know who the man is, we don’t know who his wife is. The nurses happened to be there and took his picture. What’s beautiful is that’s all we know.” Zatorski reflected that although they may not know the details of his story, they found his gratitude beautiful.

A woman named Shay Vander Vliet posted the picture to Facebook after her sister-in-law Paige, who works at the hospital, caught the eye of the man at work. She posted it with the caption: “I don’t know how to make a photo go viral but I think this one is worth sharing—so please, share away! And thank you, Paige, and ALL of the nurses and doctors, for your hard work and dedication, especially during this scary time.” The photo was shared by 61,000 people on social media. 

The photo also helped raise awareness for a Go Fund Me campaign for New Jersey hospitals in need of protective medical gear. Within days, the campaign raised more than $12,000. This is just one of many uplifting stories illustrating people’s kindness amid the coronavirus pandemic.