A teen fought back tears as he opened a small yellow box on his birthday to find the keys to his first-ever car – a surprise from his single mom, who had secretly saved for months to make the moment happen.
Jessie Briseno, 34, from Corpus Christi, Texas, gave birth to her son, Jaden, at such a young age that the pair “pretty much grew up together,” Jessie said, calling Jaden her best friend.
Being in and out of college while trying to raise her son, Jessie struggled to buy Jaden the finer things in life but built up an extremely close bond with her son.
The pair were helped by Jessie’s parents, too, but ahead of what was set to be a milestone birthday and gift, Jessie was determined that Jaden’s first car would be purchased by her.
The 34-year-old started working overtime at a hospital to secretly save up for the car, which she planned to present to Jaden at a birthday party, on August 24.
But just a few weeks before the big event, Jaden was attending a cheerleader party with his girlfriend, when a gun was fired and a stray bullet hit her son in the foot, in an incident that is still being investigated.
Jaden was rushed to hospital to have surgery to remove the bullet and fix his fracture, but his caring mother, wanting to take leave over the days that followed, said she was informed that any time off would need to be unpaid.
Jessie said she feared that she would need to spend the money she had saved for the car’s downpayment on bills – and there would be no party for her son, either.
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But having explained her situation in a Facebook post, viewers, especially moms, volunteered to donate more than $2,000 to a GoFundMe and provide the likes of cakes, snacks, balloons, photo booths and even an event space at a restaurant for Jaden’s big day.
With finances covered and the car secured, Jaden and his friends gathered at Neil’s Urban Oven, where the 17-year-old was presented with his gift.
After opening a yellow box, Jaden saw a set of car keys, which caused him to start welling up as he was asked what he was looking at.
Still on crutches as he recovery from the shooting, Jaden then headed outside where laid eyes on his ride.
Jessie said: “When I saw my son cry, I cried knowing I did it.
“I made it happen when I thought it was impossible.
“Seeing him react the way he did showed me he had no idea about any of it.
“That’s because I tell my son everything, he’s my best friend, and holding this secret for two weeks was killing me with anticipation.
“The response to the video has been nothing but positive comments, especially from other mothers who have done the same thing I have or hope to do for their children.
“It feels like my video gave some moms a sense of hope that it’s possible – especially for single mothers out there.
