Brighten Your Day

Strangers Flood Boy With Stuffed Sea Animals After Learning His Mom Can't Afford One

August 16, 2021

A single mom is feeling grateful for the "overwhelming love and support" she's received from strangers on the internet.

Two weeks ago, she posted on Reddit about making her son a stuffed manta ray by hand for his birthday since she is too broke to buy him one.

"My son wanted a stuffed manta ray for his 5th birthday but I didn't have money to buy one, so instead I converted his old baby blanket into one! (Hand sewn)" she wrote.

u/WildfireSmile via Reddit

Her post on the "PovertyFinance" forum garnered more than 66,000 likes and thousands of supportive comments.

"This is cute!!! He'll love it. And it'll be a beloved stuffy that his parent went out of the way to create for him. I bet he'll keep it forever," one user commented.

"It looks great! And so much more special than store bought. He'll love and cherish it I'm sure!" another user wrote.

Soon she was inundated with requests from strangers to send her son sea animal plushies. A few days later, she posted a follow up photo.

"I posted here a few days ago about making my son a manta ray because I couldn't afford to buy one. Look what y'all did for my baby. You are all amazing."

u/WildfireSmile via Reddit

"Thank you all for the overwhelming love and support," she said.

"I never expected this to get more than a few views, honestly thought I'd get roasted. Thank you for making a mom who has been fighting like hell for her kids and is exhausted and defeated feel loved. You guys are amazing. Truly, even if it sounds cringe, I know it's just Reddit but y'all have lifted my spirits tonight and I cannot overstate how thankful I am for that."