New mom had her worst postpartum day in a town where she knew no one — then a couple in their 90s gave her the ‘greatest gift’
Meaningful connections often begin with a simple hello, and they grow into something that feels like home. That’s exactly what happened with Colleen Bordeaux and her husband when they moved into their new home in Los Angeles. They never imagined that a senior couple living across the street would become an essential part of their lives. Bordeaux, 39, struck up a friendship with 90-year-old Shirley Dionzon, who, along with her husband, 92-year-old Ken, had lived in the house across the street for more than six decades. When Bordeaux (@colleenbordeaux) was experiencing her worst postpartum day, her neighbor came to her rescue. The video posted on August 15, 2025, captured Dionzon's wholesome way of helping and garnered over 83.8K likes.
Over time, their connection grew so strong that Dionzon eventually stepped in to help Bordeaux and her husband as they navigated life as new parents, reported Newsweek. “We haven’t got any family in Los Angeles,” Bordeaux told the outlet, adding that having Dionzon and her husband across the street has helped them a lot as new parents. “Shirley checked up on me every single day during my pregnancy and even lent me her cane as I got sciatica at around six or seven months,” she shared.
The two women first interacted in 2021 and, since then, have remained close, often inviting each other to meals. When her son Ryder was born, Bordeaux’s mother stayed for two weeks, but her departure marked what the lady described as the “worst day postpartum.” This was when Dionzon stepped in to help. With three adult grandchildren of her own, she brought over meals, watched Ryder during work calls, and helped whenever Bordeaux needed to run quick errands. She came over to sit with Ryder so Bordeaux could attend meetings or calls. “It has been super fun having Shirley as I stepped into motherhood and entrepreneurship at the same time, because she's shown up for those moments where I had an opportunity, such as a meeting or a call,” she explained.
Talking to the outlet, the old lady said, “I’ve had to learn how to take care of a baby all over again. I love it.” Not just practical help, but Dionzon also provided emotional support to the new mother. “We often joke that babies are easy and husbands are hard,” Bordeaux shared. Dionzon added, “With babies, you just have to take it one day at a time. They’re different today, and they’re different tomorrow.” While many new mothers are encouraged to attend baby groups, Bordeaux believes support can come from unexpected places. “I don’t need other moms who are so busy and overwhelmed. I need, like, wonderful, retired ladies, like Shirley, in my life that are also able to share some wisdom," she said.
In the video with the overlaid text reading, "This is what happens when you befriend the old lady across the street," Dionzon was seen sitting on a chair, gently rocking the baby. “Having surrogate grandparents across the street is the greatest gift, but it didn’t just happen — it took years of small interactions, showing up, and mutual care," Bordeaux captioned the clip. Her story struck a chord with users on social media, with viewers flooding the comment section. “So precious! I know she is filled with joy too,” wrote @queenejg. @jenntunn joked, “This is my retirement plan!” @sarahwildmothering remarked, “That baby loves her!”
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