When it comes to surprises, the Fox5 Surprise Squad are masters of the craft. Hosted by Monica Jackson until this year, the heartwarming segment featured local citizens being surprised in heartwarming and emotional ways.
A few years ago, the Surprise Squad did something different. They had learned about the Periscope app and were using it to get the viewers involved in the surprises. To test it out, the crew had a plan.
The squad headed to a local gas station, where they asked online viewers to pick the person they wanted to be surprised with free gas.
Online viewers immediately spotted an older truck in the gas station and picked the driver as the recipient.
Little did anyone know, however, they were in for an emotional surprise. In the video, which has been viewed over a million times, Jackson chases down David, the truck’s driver, on his way to the cashier’s line. “It looks like you’re about to fill up the truck there?” she asks him.
“No, I’m getting five dollars’ [worth],” the man nervously replies.
When the host offers to fill the tank up instead, David is in disbelief. He thanks her and starts to tell his story:
“I’ve been trying to see my son,” he reveals.
“I’ve been trying to see him and go back to San Diego. I’ve never seen my son before or my grandchildren.”
He points towards his loaded truck and tells her he had been selling his things to afford the trip.
“Okay, I’ll tell you what,” says Jackson.
“Because this is such a big occasion, we’re going to go ahead and give you $500.”
“There is a God,” David manages to utter before breaking down in tears.
When David has regained his composure, he tells Jackson more about his past. “I joined the service when I was 17 years old, and I couldn’t take care of him [son]. Then by the time I came home after service, I lost track.” Hearing the man’s story, you see producers working behind the scenes to do something more. Then a lady approaches Jackson and whispers in her ear. “We’re not done with you,” Jackson then tells David.
“Thank you to all of our folks on Periscope. They want us to buy everything out of your truck plus fill it up.
“You get a grand total of $1000.”
The sobbing father immediately thanks the Surprise Squad and calls his son.
“David, I’m going to see you on Saturday, David,” he tells him between tears.
On Saturday, the day David is supposed to fly to San Diego and visit his son, Jackson calls him back to the studio to give him one more big surprise.
I don’t want to give it away— but we’ll just say the moment is definitely emotional. Since being uploaded to YouTube, the Surprise Squad’s amazing act has been viewed more than a million times. Comments on the video read:
“So touching. GOD is amazing. ”
“I feel like I won a thousand dollars too.”
“I love you for doing this!!! Thank you so much for being kind. LOVE LOVE LOVE”
“Thank you for restoring my faith in humanity. This is a beautiful story that truly brought tears to my eyes.”
Watch the squad give David his last surprise in the video below!
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