There are some relationships in our life that change us forever. As children, it’s always the most unlikely of people that we find ourselves drawn to! It’s in those everyday people that children often see superheroes. For one little girl with special needs, the superhero in her life was the man who came every week to empty their garbage cans.
Emma Grace Johnson is a little girl who has permanently befriended the sanitation worker that comes to her home.
Johnson is 5-years-old and lives in Vestavia Hills, Alabama. Every Tuesday and Thursday, you never have to wonder where little Emma Grace is going to be. That’s because she is always waiting for her friend, Elbert Berry, to come to pick up the trash.
Emma Grace had developed a fascination with large vehicles and big trucks a while ago, and the relationship ended up stemming naturally from that.
Little kids always seem to be drawn to things like fire and garbage trucks, especially Emma Grace. For her, finding something to become obsessed with is important, especially considering how tough life has been for her.
Emma Grace was born a micro-preemie in Hungary, spending four months in the NICU before being adopted at three years old.
Now, a 5-year-old who has spent much of her life in the pandemic, things haven’t been easy. Her grandpa had heart surgery in March and ended up spending two months with the little girl. Sadly, he passed away only in September of last year. Emma Grace needed a hero to look up to.
Fate seemed to have aligned, however, when Emma noticed Elbert taking her garbage away one day.
Emma got his attention and gave him a wave. Ever since that moment, the two have been friends. Now, since school has begun in-person learning again, Emma has started carrying a photo of her friend with her wherever she goes! She even made him a special birthday card.
“The baby made me a birthday card, a handmade birthday card,” Berry said. “It said, ‘I love you,’ and she stuck the picture inside.” – WVTM
Elbert was so touched by the birthday card that he decided to get her a gift in return.
One day, Elbert showed up with a very special necklace for little Emma Grace. It had a photo of the two of them on the front, covered in glass. On the back was a special inscription she could read whenever she wanted. It read:
“You are the Best Part of my Day!”
The necklace ended up meaning the world to the little girl.
“When he gave her the necklace his face just lit up. He was so proud to give it to her and make her smile,” Laura Johnson told WVTM. “And it made me think that he was the kind of person who should be celebrated, but probably more important than that, he is the kind of person we should all try to be more like.”
Stories like this go to show that kids are usually incredible judges of character. Thanks for being an incredible human, Elbert!
Check out the video below to see their beautiful friendship for yourself!
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