A teenage boy was handed the keys to his late father’s pickup truck in an emotional birthday surprise planned to honor the man he lost.
Gage DaPrato, 14, from Basehor, Kansas, had grown up riding in the Chevrolet Silverado with his father, Justin, on the way to baseball games and practices for teams Justin helped coach.
Though Gage was young at the time, his mom, Mindy, 46, said he loved the truck so much that when he once saw a black version of the same vehicle, he called it a “Blackado,” because his dad’s was silver.
The family’s life changed in late 2021, when they contracted COVID-19 and Justin was taken to the emergency room.
MORE LIKE THIS: Dad Gets Surprised With Truck by Daughter After Putting Kids First
He died on December 13 after being vented for nearly two weeks.
After Justin’s death, the truck remained on the family’s drive for a while before Justin’s father, Ed, took it to his farm in Topeka for safekeeping.
In the years that followed, Gage would spend time at the farm and ask to ride in his dad’s truck.
Ed kept the vehicle running and promised that, one day, it would belong to Gage.
That moment came on April 24, on what would have been Justin’s birthday.
Gage had passed his driver’s test and received his permit the previous month, and Mindy decided the timing was right.
After eating at Chipotle – Justin’s favorite place to eat – Mindy pulled over in a Walmart parking lot and explained what was about to happen.
She then handed Gage the keys.
The emotion of the moment was clear on the teenager’s face as Mindy captured his reaction on video.
They then drove to Mindy’s father’s house, where the truck had been dropped off, and she filmed Gage’s delight as he climbed into the vehicle, ready to take it back onto the road.
Since the surprise, Gage has sold some of his beloved Pokémon cards in the hope of updating the stereo – something Mindy said Justin had also wanted to do.
MORE LIKE THIS: Family Surprises Dad by Bringing Back His Cherished 1965 Chevy Truck
Mindy added: “My late husband helped coach Gage’s baseball teams growing up.
“They took the truck to all of his practices and games, and Gage loved riding in his dad’s truck.
“Justin’s birthday has always been a bit of a sad day without him here, so I asked his father if he would be able to make that work so that I could surprise Gage.
“I was so excited to give this truck to Gage and seeing his reaction.
“The thank you that he said and the way he reacted to me becoming emotional let me know that I have an amazing kid and he is going to take great care of that truck and honor his dad with driving it.
“The response from my family and friends and my social media has been so heartfelt and amazing.
“The people that have reached out and the family, friends and strangers who cried along with us made it such an amazing moment.”
