When you have a really good pal, you know what matters the most to them, and it’s easy to cheer them up. You know how to make them crack up, how to make them feel better them when they’re sad, and what to get them for really special occasions.
While some friends plan out their birthday or Christmas presents far in advance, only a few put in the time and effort that this kid from Norman, Arkansas, did.
Tanner Wilson and Brandon Qualls are wonderful friends, and both attend Caddo Hills High School. Qualls uses a wheelchair, and for the longest time, he had to push himself around on his own power. It worked, but it was quite exhausting.
“My arms would get really tired and I would have to stop and take rests,” he said, according to THV11.
Wilson noticed his friend’s struggles day in and day out, and decided to help him upgrade his wheelchair. Working part-time for over two years, Wilson finally saved up enough cash to purchase a motorized wheelchair, which he presented to Qualls on Feb. 26.
“He’s just been a really good friend and I wanted to do him a favor,” Wilson stated. “I just felt like I needed to do it and I wanted to do it.”
“I wish people would care more about others than just their selves,” Wilson told CBS News.
“It was amazing because I didn’t know what he had done for me,” Qualls told KARK. “They came in and my face just blew up…crying everywhere…just like ‘Wow, can’t believe he did that for me!’”
Qualls’ family doesn’t have a vehicle that can deal with the motorized wheelchair, so for now, it has to stay at the high school.
“For the past three years I’ve wanted to get him one and I mean, I’ve been trying,” Wilson said.
“There’s many people out here that have troubles and need a little bit of help,” he added. “Sometimes they can’t do it for themselves.”
“I feel like life is a little too short to, you know, be judging everybody and you should think more of others than just yourself.”
“He loves to do for others,” confirmed their mutual teacher Kathy Baker. “He loves to take up for others. He is just a great young man.”
https://www.facebook.com/CBSNews/videos/384936745631340/
The story of their relationship and Wilson’s inspiring gift started with the school and has quickly gone viral on social media.
“We would like to share some love,” the Caddo Hills School District posted on Feb. 26. “Today Tanner Wilson, Caddo Hill’s Senior, surprised his fellow classmate Brandon Qualls with a motorized wheelchair.”
“We are so grateful for the heartfelt surprise from one Indian to another. Tanner has been saving for two years to show his appreciation and friendship for Brandon.”
For Wilson, spending two years to see his friend happy was a fair trade-off: “Kids ask me was it worth it?” he said. “Yeah, 100 percent.”
