A teen received a double graduation gift when he was presented with the keys to a new truck – before his military sister jumped out to surprise him after returning home to celebrate.
Tryten Gavina from Barling, Arkansas, and his older sister, Elisa, were born just 18 months apart, and over the years they built up a strong bond while helping their single mom, Jennifer Knack.
The siblings’ father left the country when Tryten and Elisa were six and four, Jennifer said, so they leaned on each other for support while Jennifer did her best to raise them alone.
After graduating high school, Elisa left home to begin serving in the U.S. Navy, which she saw as her best route of fulfilling her dream of becoming an anesthesiologist.
With Elisa based in Walter Reed Medical Center, in Bethesda, Maryland, Tryten found his senior year tough, navigating the end of high school without his best friend.
On his 18th birthday, on May 6, the teen said his only wish would have been to have Elisa home – so his sister began working on a way to return to Arkansas for his graduation.
Jennifer had given her son two options, a truck as a graduation gift or a trip with mom, and with Tryten having chosen the vehicle, Jennifer knew she wanted to plan an extra layer to the gift.
With Elisa being granted 48 hours leave for her sibling’s graduation, the family paid large last-minute airline fees, with the surprise set to take place on May 15.
After a grateful Tryten headed outside to collect a new watch, he saw his new vehicle pull up outside his family’s home.
Little did he know, Elisa had been the one to drive it home, and as she jumped out, the pair shared a tearful hug as a shocked Tryten held his sister after months apart.
Jennifer, who captured the moment on video, said: “My heart melted.
“I had to tell a while lie that his sister bought him a new watch to wear for graduation and that he had to wait for.
“We made it home with 10 minutes to spare before he left.
“I told him it was in my JEEP, and the rest is in the video.
“There were lots of tears and he cried, telling her you can’t do this to me right now.
“I have raised them to always put their relationship first in life and never let it fade.
“They are close and all I could have ever prayed for as a mother.
“They are my world.”
