Celebrating your 21st birthday is a major rite of passage for all young adults. But mom Kim Davis-Robinette knew that her son, Matthew, wouldn't celebrate his coming-of-age the way most young adults do.
Matthew was born with intellectual and physical differences, and though he's about to hit the big 2-1, a traditionally raucous birthday bash isn't really appropriate for him.
Still, Kim wasn't going to let Matthew's differences get in the way of him having a great day. She just needed to tailor the celebration to her son!
Matthew has a brain malformation and cerebral palsy, and he is on the autism spectrum. As a result, he can't talk or move around on his own, so his mom knew she wouldn't be able to give him a traditional night on the town for his 21st.
Instead, Kim took to Facebook to ask friends and family for a favor. Matthew loves parades, so she asked people to drive by the house and honk their horns for Matthew, as special 'parade' just for his big day.
When people saw Kim's request, they delivered — and then some!
Kim's post read:
SPECIAL REQUEST FOR THIS SATURDAY
Matthew turns 21 this week and I want to do something special for him this year. One of Matthew's favorite things to do is to watch parades. So I want to give him a birthday parade.
I am requesting as many friends as possible to drive by my house and honk your horn to wish Matthew a Happy 21st Birthday. He loves all kinds of vehicles — trucks, motorcycles, cars, firetrucks, police cars — he loves it all.
I will have Matthew outside from 2-4 p.m. this Saturday/August 19.
My address is 1725 Kingsley Dr Anderson, IN 46011Hope to see you driving by!!!
What happened next was truly incredible. Instead of just driving by and honking horns like Kim had suggested, hundreds of people from Anderson, Indiana, came to put on a real parade for Matthew.
Cars full of people literally lined up around the block to help wish him a happy birthday.
Fox 59 notes, "Police officers, firefighters, bikers, and even a marching band made their way to Matthew's house. The parade lasted more than an hour and a half."
Kim adds, "It's been an overwhelming response."
Matthew's brother says, "This is something incredibly special — something you would never expect to happen. I got goose bumps and was crying a few times."
Of course, no one can be blamed for getting a little emotional about how much people went out of their way to help Matthew celebrate.
Matthew can't tell his well-wishers how happy he is, but the birthday boy is visibly thrilled by the parade in his honor and can't wipe the smile off his face.
Kim says, "When the people see the smile on his face, they're going to get that love right back."
Firetrucks, school buses and ambulances are just some of the vehicles that drove by for Matthew.
Kim tells LittleThings that Matthew, who loves NASCAR, was especially excited to be able to sit in this car that Dale Earnhardt drove in 1997.
After the fact, Kim writes on Facebook:
Thank you to each and everyone for making today MATTHEW’S BEST DAY EVER!!!
Keep on sharing the love and compassion you showed Matthew today.
Make sure to SHARE this touching story with your friends on Facebook!
