Just around Christmas, Leticia Gonzalez of Liberal, Kansas, thought it'd be a good idea to take her 4-year-old twin girls, Luna and Gianella, outside for a fun new tradition. She had the girls write down what they wanted for Christmas on balloons and let the girls send those balloons off on a particularly windy day.
Leticia didn't think anything would come of it. It was more or less a fun way to reach Santa Claus. And that's why she was shocked to learn that one of the balloons literally flew 600 miles to a man named Alvin Bamburg of Shreveport, Louisiana. Alvin, who's full of kindness, thought the balloon was quite special. And since it's been such a terrible year, he figured it would be a kind gesture to act on what he found.
Leticia filmed the girls letting go of the balloons, both of which contained individual notes. Some of the things the girls were asking Santa for included candy, a doll from the film Frozen, a Spider-Man ball, a My Little Pony, and of course the ultimate toddler wish: The two of them wanted a puppy.
"It was something different for the girls," Leticia told Good Morning America. "A memory they could keep after a rough 2020. It was just so cold and windy. I didn't expect them to go that far." But that's the magic of balloons.
Not only did it travel a long way, but it traveled fast. Alvin posted a message on Facebook to try to identify the found balloon, which appears to have been Luna's. "Found this in the woods in Grand Cane, LA," he said. "Would love to know when it was launched. Looks like it traveled over 600 miles. Feel free to share."
Eventually, Alvin did some research and learned more about where the balloon originated. "The family was found through many shares!" he said. "Thank you to all who helped. We have heard from the mom and are going to work with her to figure out the best way to grant her daughters' wishes. Stay tuned."
Leticia was shocked to have been contacted by Alvin, as she assumed that the balloons wouldn't get a response. "We did not expect it," she said to Good Morning America. "It was a big surprise to us." Alvin ended up sending almost everything on the list.
The one thing he couldn't ship? The puppy. But that doesn't mean that Alvin didn't make that dream possible. He and his wife chose to gift the girls a puppy named Max, and they made the drive over to meet the girls in person. It was a heartwarming experience for both families.
"If you can make one person smile, trust me," Alvin said. "Not only will it help them, it will make you feel so much better." Alvin knew that it had been a hard year, so he was more inspired than ever to make the dream of the girls come true. Surely, he asked Leticia for puppy permission prior to, as she seemed well aware of Max's adorable arrival.
Alvin could have just ignored the balloon. But he didn't. Neither he nor Leticia likely thought their story would go viral. Out of the goodness of his heart, he wanted to pay it forward and grant these wishes. Hopefully, that will inspire more people to take a chance when the opportunity comes their way.
Balloons might not be the most environmentally friendly choice to send wishes, but in the moment, it was something that made sense for Leticia and her family. That one found balloon managed to connect two families in a beautiful way. Even after their meetup, Leticia and Alvin have stayed in touch.
It's fascinating when two people become honorary family over something so small. The story is a bit similar to the tale of Wanda Dench, who once sent a text to the wrong number. Wanda thought she was sending a Thanksgiving invite to her grandson, but she actually sent it to Jamal Hinton. Upon realizing the error, Wanda invited Jamal over anyway.
Jamal accepted the offer, and the two quickly became friends. They've continued the Thanksgiving tradition for years. By looking at the photos of the two of them together, it's apparent that they really enjoy each other. If the text had never been sent, they likely never would have met.
It seems like Alvin and the twins may have a similar connection — strangers who met by fate. No matter what, it's proof that kind people do exist, and that new friends can be made when you least expect it. Having a caring heart — like Wanda and Alvin — is a wonderful quality in a person.
Maybe this story will inspire you to buy gifts, or write a card, to someone you haven't seen in some time who would enjoy the friendly gesture. As we all recover from 2020, these extra steps can make a big difference in someone's life. Every time these twins see Max the puppy, they'll remember their big Christmas miracle.
This story also highlights the importance of social media. While it can often be somewhat of a burden, it's a great way to try to find others. Alvin was easily able to locate Leticia just based on sharing his post on Facebook. It's a nice reminder that in a strange way, we're all connected.
