He Knew He Only Had Days Left. A Restaurant's Kindness Made His Final Meal Special

February 2, 2026

A simple act of kindness from a local restaurant in Arizona brought unexpected comfort to a woman saying goodbye to her husband.

Roberta Wilsey shared how her family was deeply touched by the compassion shown by Nando’s Mexican Cafe in Gilbert during her husband Al’s final days.

Credit: Roberta Wilsey / 12 News

Al was a regular at the family-owned restaurant and had been battling serious health issues for years, including diabetes, pancreatitis, kidney failure, and multiple foot amputations. After more than a year on dialysis, he made the difficult decision to stop treatment.

“He was in a lot of pain,” Wilsey said.

Despite his declining health, Al stayed closely connected to his faith and loved ones, spending his final days making phone calls to say goodbye.

One Saturday night, Al had a simple request.

“I want Mexican,” he told his wife.

Al decided to call Nando’s Mexican Cafe and spoke with employee Ava Littau, who helped him over the phone. When she asked if he would be picking up the food, Al gently explained that he was bed-bound and nearing the end of his life.

“I was like, ‘That's not a joke. Something in his voice, just maybe something spoke to me. And I was like, ‘He's not joking. These are his final few days, and it's up to us to make sure we do something about it, just to give him a smile or something, anything you know,’” Littau said.

She and her coworkers arranged a complimentary delivery, along with a handwritten note letting him know they had paid for his dinner and that he was in their prayers.

Wilsey said she was overwhelmed by the gesture. “I was blown away. I started crying.”

What she didn’t know at the time was that it would be his last meal.

Looking back, Wilsey says the moment means even more now.

To her, the kindness from a group of strangers during such a painful time served as a powerful reminder.

“It was such a good reminder that there are good people in this world. And I…just couldn't believe it," she said.