At times, life may be quite cruel. We had it all one day, and the next our world crumbles, leaving us to face the terrible fact that we are no longer the persons we once were. Joo Coelho Guimares, 45, of Brazil, was evicted from his home ten years ago and has been living on the streets of Goiânia ever since. He’s had a terrible life and is scraping by by collecting cans around town.

A chance meeting, however, changed everything for this gentleman. As he passed by, Guimares visited a clothes store and a barbershop operated by Brazilian country artist Alessandro Lobo and requested a razor to trim his beard. That’s when the owner and his team decided to revamp him. Guimares got a new haircut and new clothes, including a jacket, three shirts, a pair of jeans, and a pair of shoes.

He looked like a completely different person, and Lobo was so pleased that Guimares liked his new look that he decided to share it on his Instagram account. It resulted in something truly incredible, believe it or not. Guimares’ family had not heard from him in years, leading them to believe he had died. They couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw Lobo’s photo.

“They saw the photo and contacted me, and because he doesn’t have a phone or a fixed address, we’ll go through the neighborhood tomorrow to try to find him,” Lobo said at the time. It was a touching reunion. Guimares’ sister extended an invitation to him to remain with her and her family, but he declined. “Joo is still out there.” His sister offered to greet him and drive him home, but he declined.

He stated that he feels free on the streets. That’s why he didn’t want to go home,” Lobo wrote on Instagram. “We thank God and all of you for allowing us to be a part of this exciting time.” 2020 was a year of many losses for loved ones all over the world, with a [relief] for this family in the midst of it all.”