Mum issues Facebook appeal following son’s overwhelming iPad experience

 

It’s those everyday gestures that make all the difference when you’re in a tough or testing moment, and US mum LynnMarie’s story proves this in the most heartwarming way.

 

LynnMarie has become somewhat of a viral sensation this week, after taking to Facebook to send a special ‘thank you’ to the Apple Store employee who came to the rescue of her young son with Down syndrome this month.

 

In her post, LynnMarie explained how son James’ iPad became an essential part of daily life in their household: “It turned out to be more than a device to watch videos. It became a way to help James communicate.”

 

It’s understandable then, that the family were lost without James’ iPad when it became damaged over the years. After a chat with a dear friend who works at a charity, LynnMarie was delighted to be offered the chance to replace James’ beloved gadget.

 

In his excitement to pick up his new iPad, James – who was diagnosed with autism at the age of six – went running head-first into the glass of the Green Hills Apple Store in Nashville, and he was left very upset and sore.

 

It was the actions of one kind employee who completely transformed the experience, however, as LynnMarie wrote: “I ran to him and tried to comfort him. James has a very high tolerance for pain, so his tears and ‘fat lip’ were brief. Mine, however, were not. As I hugged him sitting on the floor, your employee came over and sat down next to me. He asked if he was okay and if there was anything he could do. I think it was at this point that he realised James had special needs.”

 

The ‘awesome’ young man then went out of his way to ensure that James and LynnMarie were both alright, and that they received the best customer service possible. Not only did he sit on the floor with James, making sure that he was okay, but he also remained there to help him set up his new iPad.

 

Praising the unnamed employee for his kindness, LynnMarie revealed that she was so overwhelmed, she forgot to thank the wonderful young man – something she hoped she could do if her post reached viral status.

 

“There are no words to accurately describe how grateful I am that he took the time to ‘meet us right where we were.’ He didn’t have to sit down on the floor with us. He could have easily waited for us to stand; could have easily waited for us to come back another day. But he hung out with us in the midst of our pain. He even got a fist bump from James, and I snapped this photo,” she added.

 

Her closing hashtag sums up exactly how powerful incidents like these can be: Be Kind To One Another.