October 28, 2022

WOW Story: More Than Family

Gustavo Martinez, Assistant Maintenance Manager
Employee since 2021

The WOW Opportunity

A member of the leasing team was walking a unit with one of our current residents, Greg, when he shared what he had been going through following the recent amputation of his foot. He stated that he had been struggling with daily tasks during his recovery process. Greg shared that most of his family resides in Chicago, leaving him to spend a lot of time alone, other than the time his caretakers are there throughout the day to help him.

The Epiphany

One day, while Greg and the leasing team were discussing repairs, he revealed that Assistant Maintenance Manager, Gustavo, had been stopping by his apartment every day to check on him—even on Gustavo’s day off. The leasing was blown away when they heard about this act of kindness, especially since Gustavo had not mentioned anything about his kind gesture and new friendship with Greg. The fact that this act came from the kindness of Gustavo’s heart, without any intention of receiving recognition, truly is inspiring and what makes this moment so special.

The WOW Moment

Gustavo continued to check on Greg, regardless of his work schedule. Through checking in on Greg, Gustavo gave the gift of time, care and support when a Venterra resident needed it most. Surgery can be scary and healing can be tough; sometimes people need to know they are not alone to find strength through these tough times. Gustavo even gave the gift of a good meal, with him and his wife showing up with breakfast tacos in tow for a visit the previous Saturday, Greg shared.

The Result

As Greg told the team about Gustavo and his wife visiting him, he became emotional.

“They weren’t here for just 15 minutes. They stayed for hours,” Greg stated. He went on to say that Saturday was not the only time day Gustavo showed up. “He actually shows up every day! My own family won’t even do that,” he said. He also mentioned that Gustavo was the only person that ever truly went out of his way to make sure he was okay. These consistent visits serve as a fantastic reminder that you can perform acts of kindness solely around your genuine care for people without seeking recognition from others.

Have you experienced a WOWMatters experience at your property or did we WOW you in some way? Let us know by sharing a Google Review here! Who knows, you just may be featured on our blog one day!