Every Afternoon, Construction Workers Stop What They’re Doing For One Little Girl — And It’s Beautiful

February 17, 2026

Every afternoon around 3 p.m., a small group of construction workers in Cleveland makes one last stop before heading home. They climb to an upper floor of a building under construction, look toward a nearby hospital window, and wave—often forming heart shapes with their hands.

On the other side of the glass, 4-year-old Brinley Wyczalek is waiting, returning the heart gestures back to them.

Credit: Cleveland Clinic

What started as a simple exchange of flashlight signals has turned into a daily tradition filled with encouragement, kindness, and hope.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the connection began in January after Brinley had spent weeks in the hospital. One evening while playing, her father, Travis, shined a flashlight toward the neighboring construction site.

“To our surprise, someone flashed a light right back at us,” her mother, Berlyn Wyczalek, said.

Not long after, construction workers taped a sign facing Brinley’s room that read, “Get Well Soon.” The family responded with one of their own: “Thank you. Waiting for a heart.” Soon another message appeared from the worksite: “Praying for you and your family. Keep fighting.”

The workers—who are helping build Cleveland Clinic’s new Neurological Institute—decided to take the gesture even further. They organized donations for Brinley, including coloring books, games, a signed hard hat, and even a stuffed bear twice her size.

Union carpenter Devan Nail explained how the experience affected the crew:

“We build hospitals to help people heal. But seeing Brinley made it personal. We wanted her to know she has a whole crew behind her.”

Brinley was born healthy, but at age 2, doctors discovered her heart had been severely weakened after a combination of viruses. She has now spent more than 100 days at Cleveland Clinic Children’s while waiting for a transplant. In the meantime, she is being supported by a ventricular assist device known as a Berlin Heart, which helps pump blood through her body as she waits.

Her pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Shahnawaz Amdani, emphasized that care goes beyond medicine alone.

“Healing isn’t only physical,” he said. “Human connection matters deeply.”

Each day’s waves and heart signs have become a reminder that even small acts of kindness can mean the world to someone facing a difficult journey.

“All of this started with a flashlight,” Berlyn said. “And it’s shown us that even in the hardest moments, there’s so much good.”