Most kids naturally make friends with people their own age which is why this is a beautifully unique story. A special relationship is going viral that shows just how powerful friendships that cross generational lines can be.

Stanley is a 95 year-old veteran who suffers from dementia and had fallen into a depression in his nursing home. Stanley never expected to find joy in life again until a little girl showed up one day and turned everything around for him.

Stanley lives at Avita Of Wells, a facility that has over sixty residents. The nursing home offers a music generation class that involves children from the local area of Wells, Maine coming to visit Avita and sing songs, play instruments and play games.

This is how 3 year-old Etta Morse ended up at the facility, and as soon as she met Stanley, she immediately stole his heart! Whenever Etta’s mother Laurie Morse brings her and her brother to Avita, the little girl runs right for Stanley. Laurie explained that she has been bringing her kids to the nursing home for two years, since Etta was just a year old.

“I have no idea when it actually started. They just kind of have a little connection,” Laurie said.

The friendship began when the children were told to hand out instruments to the elderly, and Etta gave one to Stanley. Since then, Etta has not given instruments to any other resident besides the veteran.

Staffers say that Stanley always gets up early and dresses up for the children’s visit. Even though he doesn’t always remember Etta’s name, he always brightens up as soon as he sees her.

To learn more about this heartwarming friendship, watch the video below.