When Luis Tamarez stood before his classmates in his preschool classroom, no one in the room, not even the young children, were able to stop themselves from crying. The little boy, who had not been able to walk before, was overjoyed to show everyone how much he had improved. He was elated and overjoyed.
But Luis was also grateful. He knew that a stranger had donated the money required to make the procedure happen – and because of them, he now can walk…
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Luis was born with cerebral palsy. And for the first four years of his life, he was forced to crawl or use a wheelchair to get around – and it was very difficult for the little boy.
But since the stranger changed his life, he has been able to walk – and it made all the difference for him.
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“His reaction was pure joy,” Luis’s teacher, Amy Cutler, told Fox 29.“You could see his smile from ear to ear. My reaction was tears.”
When the staff at the school learned about a device called an Upsee, they knew they needed to get it for Luis. The device allows a young child to experience the sensation of walking because they are strapped to an adult who guides his or her movements.
The staff was desperate to get one of these devices for Luis because they knew that walking would change his life. But the cost, which was $500, was prohibitive. Since the school’s budget is so tight, they can’t afford to give their students anything extra…
Determined to change Luis’s life, the school planned to hold a fundraiser, but fate intervened before they could.
Substitute teacher Yorel Browne, who supplemented her income by working as an Uber driver, told a passenger about Luis and that the device would change his life. But before Browne was able to finish his story, the passenger, a local businessman named Jim Burke, offered to buy the device for Luis.
“It was a no-brainer. It touched me. It didn’t even take a split second. It was a very easy decision,” Burke told ABC News of his offer.
He did not hesitate. He bought the device, now the school just had to wait for it to arrive. When it came, Burke and Browne were both invited to Luis’s classroom to watch the 4-year-old take his first steps with the help of his aide, Collin Days.
“He was just overjoyed and smiling. … I remember him saying, ‘I’m walking,’” Burke said.
Because Burke was able to use his money to bring joy to another person, he said it was well worth it.
“I gave $500 and got a million dollar smile,” the businessman said through tears.
Watch the inspiring video below to see Luis take his first steps. If you’re a sentimental type, you should have your box of tissues ready.
One viewer, Derek Jones, offered this comment, “I needed to see this today. Thank you. A generous heart and a brave boy. Those steps provided by a stranger make me believe in goodwill and grace. God bless you both. My mission now is to go do more for others.”
Please SHARE THIS INSPIRING STORY with your family and friends on Facebook now!
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Thanks To Anonymous Stranger, This 4-Year-Old Is Learning How To Walk For The First Time
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