Amazon delivery driver captured on doorbell camera praying for family's high-risk baby

An Amazon delivery driver is being praised for her compassion after a doorbell camera captured her praying for a baby that has a pre-existing health condition.

Since the coronavirus pandemic began, Raquel and Derek Pearson, from Nampa, Idaho, have been taking extra precautions to keep their eight-month-old son Lucas safe, as he lives with a heart condition that puts him at a higher risk if he contracts the virus.

According to the couple, this has meant ordering a lot of Lucas’s food and other supplies online rather than risking trips to the store.

“He needs special thickeners to be able to eat, otherwise he aspirates his milk, so we really depend on getting all of these supplies online so we don't have to go out to the store and bring a virus home,” Raquel told KTVB. “We just want to minimise exposure to coronavirus.”

A few weeks ago, Raquel was waiting for a package containing supplies for Lucas when she noticed that her Ring doorbell camera had captured their Amazon delivery driver standing motionless on their front porch.

At first, Raquel said she didn’t understand what the driver, later identified as Monica Salinas, was doing - until she watched her make the sign of the cross.

“I noticed that she was standing there, and I didn't really realise what she was doing until I saw her doing the sign of the cross. I was like 'Oh my gosh, she was praying,'” Raquel told the outlet. “So, I kind of choked up a bit. It's been really hard to get through this, so I'm really touched that a stranger would take time out of her day to wish our son well like that.”

According to the couple, Salinas knew about their son’s health issues because of a sign that the couple has placed on their front door that lets delivery drivers know the family has a high-risk child and thanks them for delivering the essential supplies.

“We have a sign on the door letting the delivery drivers know we have a high risk child, and we thank them for putting themselves out there in the mix every day,” Derek said. “It just meant a lot that she took that time out of her busy day to pray, and send positive vibes to Lucas and our family. I was really touched by it.”

The Pearsons later shared the clip of the gesture to Facebook, where it went viral and eventually captured the attention of Salinas herself, who said the positive response has made her happy.

Explaining that her customers are “amazing” and often leave notes of appreciation, Salinas told the outlet that she first spotted the note about Lucas when the pandemic first began and that it “touches her heart”.

“There was a note and it said their baby's food was essential, and every time I see that note, it just touches my heart,” Salinas said. “I just stopped to do what my heart told me to do, to say a prayer for the baby and for the parents, because that's got to be very painful for all of them to see their baby hurt and struggle.

“I just prayed that they can make it through another day, one day at a time.”