Kids have been sending letters to Santa for ages, but usually, it’s just for the fun of it. Parents know that these letters won’t really make it to the North Pole. Yet, there’s still some magic in writing wishlists and sending them off to Santa.
But somehow, 4-year-old twins Luna and Gianella Gonzalez found a Christmas miracle after the holiday season. A stranger across the country found their list and decided to become Santa. He worked with other Good Samaritans to make the wishlist come true. That included one new family member: a puppy!
An Unexpected Miracle
Leticia Gonzalez and her family had traveled to Mexico for Christmas to help less fortunate children. It was a feel-good experience for the whole family, but of course, Luna and Gianella still had a wishlist of their own. So, Gonzalez let them write their Christmas lists on balloons. Then, they released them in the air, hoping they’d reach Santa’s workshop. (Note: As cute as this idea is, it’s important to remember not to release balloons because they’re dangerous for wildlife and the environment.)
But the balloons never made it to the North Pole. Instead, Luna’s balloon traveled 650 miles in the opposite direction. It drifted all the way from Kansas to Louisiana. Alvin Bamburg found it in a tree and closely examined the list on it. The girls had asked for candy, a Spiderman ball, a Frozen doll, a My Little Pony, and most importantly, a puppy.
Bamburg wanted to help out, but of course, he needed more information and their parent’s permission, especially for the puppy. After all, puppies aren’t surprise gifts. A family should be prepared and know that they’re getting a dog in advance. So, Bamburg posted the balloon on Facebook and was eventually connected with Gonzalez.
As it turns out, the family had a dog for 12 years, but she recently passed away in 2020. Now, the family was prepared to add a new furry friend to their home. Bamburg was determined to make that dream a reality.
Kindness Goes a Long Way
With the help of more kind strangers, Bamburg gathered all the gifts (minus the dog) and shipped them to Gonzalez. The girls were overjoyed to see their Christmas wishes come to life. But of course, Bamburg couldn’t ship a puppy to the girls. Instead, he and his wife decided to make the trip themselves. He found a puppy named Max and drove 650 miles to bring him to his new family.
The whole family was overjoyed to welcome a new dog into their home. And Max seemed equally as excited to meet his humans. It’s clear that this pup will be getting lots of love in his forever home.
“If you can make one person smile — trust me, not only will it help them, it will make you feel so much better,” Bamburg said.
Puppies should never be spur-of-the-moment presents, but luckily, it seems this family was plenty prepared for a new family member. They will forever be grateful for Bamburg and his kind heart. This story just goes to show that a little kindness can go a long way. Be kind to others because you never know how you could change their lives.
H/T: goodmorningamerica.com
Featured Image: Screenshot, @ABCNews/Facebook
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