The coronavirus pandemic has turned people’s lives upside down. Adults have lost their jobs. People have lost their lives.
High school seniors anticipating prom, graduation and a senior trip now find themselves without marking these major milestones. Adult-aged college students had to move back home and finish out their school year in close quarters with their families.
Schools have no idea how they will educate students when class is in session this fall. Businesses are slowly reopening to the public, but fears abound about the unknown.
Younger kiddos are missing their friends, activities, music concerts, recess, dress-up days at school and their teachers. The biggest event many kids are upset about is having to skip birthday parties with friends.
The birthday boy or girl is stuck at home with only family to celebrate. No special birthday treats in the classroom or being serenaded by pals at lunch.
No sleepover with friends. No exciting outing to a movie, a game, the salon or bouncy place. It’s hard for a parent to explain why a birthday party just can’t be held right now and try to make the most of the time families are finding together.
The promise of having one this summer or maybe even later doesn’t erase the disappointment and hurt. Emma recently turned six during the coronavirus and while her family did their very best to make it a super duper special day just for her, it was still hard for her to not have a birthday party with her buddies and celebrate at school.
Emma’s mom Liz Paternoster ensured Emma’s birthday wasn’t overlooked, but it was something a complete stranger did that really made her day.
When 61-year-old FedEx driver Jodan Price popped by the Paternoster’s Fisher, Ind., home to drop off a package, he learned it was little Emma’s birthday.
As he resumed his route, he thought about how everyone’s lives have been uprooted due to the global pandemic and he decided he wanted to do something sweet for Emma.
“It just stayed on my mind.”
He thought about the birthday celebrations his own two sons enjoyed at school with their friends when they were little and it really bothered Price.
“She wasn’t going to get any of that. I just thought it was so important that she have at least something for her birthday.”
After 36 years of driving for FedEx, Price did something that’s propelled him into social media stardom. He went above and beyond the line of duty and bought ice cream cupcakes for Emma’s birthday during his lunch break.
“…those that know him have reached out to me and described him as an incredibly selfless and kind man who loves to do for others.”
Liz could not believe who was standing on the other side of her front door when the doorbell rang that same day. She definitely couldn’t believe what Jodan was holding in his hands.
“Okay. FedEx our driver deserves a bonus! He realized it was our daughter’s birthday & went to Dairy Queen to get her ice cream cupcakes. He said, ‘I just wanted to do this because if we weren’t in this situation, she’d be celebrating with friends.’ I’m not crying. You’re crying!”
Liz shared on Twitter a photo of the precious exchange with Emma wearing a colorful birthday outfit, admiring the tray of cupcakes Jodan gave her.
“We did not know him until that day, which makes it all the more special.”
The photo Liz snapped has gone viral with so many people loving what Jodan did. His own son Austin Price commented that it was his dad!
“I appreciate all of the comments! I have been showing them to my Dad and he appreciates each and every one of them! It has put a big smile on his face. Thank you!”
Jodan swung by Emma’s house the next day and she was able to properly thank him with some handmade cards she had made just for him.
“Our hearts are full and we feel so blessed to have the best FedEx delivery man in the world!”
Even the local Dairy Queen gave a shout out to Emma when the business learned what Jodan had done to brighten her birthday.
“Who doesn’t love to read about the random acts of kindness that happen in the world? Wishing this little girl the happiest of birthdays!”
Jodan said one of the best parts of his job is “meeting all the people on my routes, watching them grow up.”
“I felt really good about doing something. I always feel like the kids on whatever route I’m on are my kids.”
Liz couldn’t believe that Jodan did such a sweet thing for her daughter and bought enough cupcakes for her three-year-old daughter, her husband and her.
She knows how diligent delivery personnel, truck drivers and other essential employees are working right now during the coronavirus pandemic.
“They are working so hard to make sure people are getting what they need.”
Jodan modestly said he hopes the experience encourages others to remain kind during these stressful times.
“I just hope people share kindness to anyone they see. When I go to a home, I never know what’s going on so I just try to be an inspiration.”
While Emma’s sixth birthday wasn’t exactly how she envisioned it, it ended up being a pretty good day with hundreds of thousands of people wishing her a happy birthday on social media and some tasty ice cream cupcakes to enjoy.
This definitely won’t be a birthday Emma will forget!
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