Young Man With Disability Is Rescued From Homelessness By Caring Passerby

Feb 14, 2022 by apost team

When James Fox rode his skateboard on the way to his mom’s house one hot morning in Florida, it seemed like any other day. And if Dan Creighton hadn’t driven by Fox that day, it would’ve been. 

When Creighton first saw Fox, he was riding down Veterans Parkway in Cape Coral, Florida. Creighton said at first, he thought Fox was a child. When he looked closer, he knew he had to stop to help him. 

Fox was born with malformed arms and legs. He was 29 years old when he first met Creighton, and he had used a skateboard to get around since he was five years old. At the time, Fox told Creighton he was working as a software developer. While this was true, there was something Fox didn’t tell him—he was homeless.

Fox was at a low point when he first met Creighton. “I was homeless and nearly helpless when Dan and I crossed paths,” Fox said. 

Fox had struggled with anxiety and depression for years, and in an interview with Humankind, he said he had tried everything. After seeing multiple therapists, trying different medications and experimenting with sleep methods to improve his mental health, Fox said that nothing was working. Eventually, he began to drink excessively and self-medicate in an attempt to dull his pain. 

Though Creighton didn’t know the severity of Fox’s situation, he knew he had to do something. When he gave Fox a ride, he also gave Fox some money and his contact information, and he told him to reach out if he ever needed anything. 

Though Fox was in need, he never reached out. Two weeks later, Creighton went out to search for Fox, but he never found him. It wasn’t until years later that their paths crossed again. 

Two years later, Creighton was driving down the street when he saw Fox getting on the bus. Creighton pulled in front of the bus so that it couldn’t leave, and asked Fox if he wanted another ride. Fox remembered Creighton and immediately accepted. 

Fox said in the same interview that when he saw Creighton, he thought that it had to be God's will. 

Fox was on the way to the Social Security office when Creighton saw him. Fox’s mother had died shortly after his and Creighton’s first meeting, and he was about to be evicted because he hadn’t paid his rent. When they reached the office, Creighton wrote Fox a check for $10,000. 

Since that meeting, the two have become a large part of one another’s lives. 

The Palm Beach Post reported that Fox became involved with Creighton’s church, where he started attending a sobriety program. Fox now works in the church, and continues to work in computer software as well. 

Neither of the two knew how much Fox’s life would change due to the unlikely friendship. After Fox became involved in Creighton’s church, Creighton bought him a condo across from the church. He also created a GoFundMe account for Fox’s living expenses. When Fox walked into his new condo in January of 2020, it was completely renovated to be accessible for him and his skateboard.

Creighton said that he was inspired by Fox’s positivity when they met, and he never forgot about him. "The Bible says that I am my brother's keeper, and so James is mine," Creighton said.

apost.com

Have you ever been the recipient of a stranger’s kindness? Pass this along to someone who would be inspired by this unlikely friendship!