Restaurant Employees Surprise Coworker With A Plane Ticket To See Her Family

April 4, 2018

A group of employees at a restaurant in Laredo, TX, surprised their coworker with a family reunion.

Mary Keulana-Riotutar came to Laredo from Hawaii on a volleyball scholarship and has not seen her family in six years. Since then Riotutar has been working at Cheddars Scratch Kitchen to support herself.

Employees at the restaurant decided to surprise Riotutar with a plane ticket so that she could finally travel back to Hawaii and visit with her family.

Riotutar shared the video of the surprise that brought her to tears on Facebook.

"I don't usually post this kind of stuff but for this to happen to ME like wow," she wrote on her Facebook post. "There are no words to express my gratitude. So I'll start by saying if you all know me I'm not from Laredo, I'm from Hawaii & well I haven't been home in about 5 or 6 years. I miss my mom, my family, the food, the aloha, EVERYTHING & well i talk about it like ALL THE TIME. So! Last week people that I haven't even known for more than one year, my coworkers and friends decided to give me the biggest blessing that I have EVER received...a flight home!!! & as I'm typing this I can't even find the words to describe how I feel or how to thank each & every person who pitched in for ME! I know I'm not the easiest person to get along with, but for those who are closest to me know that I'm ALWAYS gonna be there to help you WHENEVER you need help, support, or just a friend to talk to. So for this to happen to ME I can't even believe it. Thank you my cheddars family for sending me home to my beautiful momma😭💚 P.S. I look scary when i cry🌚 It's okay though it's happy tears."