Photographer Finds Abandoned House In The Woods - Opens The Door And Gets The Shock Of Her Life

Jan 25, 2018

Leslie David from Ontario, Canada is not your average photographer. She spends her days exploring abandoned houses in her hometown to take breathtaking photos of herself or friends. These homes are often overgrown or surrounded by thick woods, and definitely look like something out of a horror movie! 

During one of her search missions, Leslie came across an old house with a broken roof and an entrance almost entirely covered with weeds. She managed to enter the house, but what she found changed her life forever. 

The house appeared like all of the other ones Leslie had casually entered and photographed. It wasn't fit or safe for someone to live in and had been completely taken over by nature, but it was the perfect backdrop for Leslie's photo aesthetic. But when she finally made her way inside, she was greeted by an unexpected inhabitant. 

An old man named Lawrence lived inside this rundown house, and had been living there for years all by himself. 

"This is Lawrence. He lives in a house I had believed to be abandoned. The driveway is overgrown, the roof is caving in and the interior would lead anyone to believe this land had been deserted. I found him in the living room. He has a hard time getting around so he spends most of his time in there. Alone. He is missing his right eye and has cataracts infecting the left. Even after noticing a stranger essentially helping themselves to his life he was nothing but sweet and kind to me," wrote Leslie on her Instagram page.

She shared a photo of Lawrence, which he graciously allowed her to take, which shows him standing in the poor conditions he was confined to living in. 

Leslie knew she couldn't let the man continue to live there, and in addition to visiting him regularly to bring him food and share stories, she immediately started working to get him placed in a good nursing home. Lawrence had suffered a stroke and didn't have the means to seek medical attention, and Leslie wanted to make sure that didn't happen again. 

She eventually found a good nursing home for Lawrence, and they started going out on friend dates so he could see all of his friends in their hometown. 

Leslie now visits Lawrence, who she lovingly refers to as "my friend" on Instagram, and they regularly have Thursday night Bingo and dinner dates. Leslie even brings her little dog around to visit too! Though his health is worsening, he told Leslie that his passion for life was rekindled after she found him alone in his deteriorating house that day. Living alone with medical problems and without family had taken a toll on him mentally, and Leslie had completely turned his mindset around. 

Leslie hopes that people will be inspired by her unexpected friendship with Lawrence. You never know who you're going to meet, and how much of an impact it will have on your life, or theirs. 

She also stresses how important it is to keep up with your family members and not let anyone be forgotten. Reach out to someone you may have lost contact with because you just might turn someone's life around :)

If you loved this story then please SHARE it with your friends and family to spread a little love and hope today!