Real Life

Football player eats lunch with lonely boy, goes viral

This is news set to put a smile on anybody’s dial.

Fact: high school doesn’t necessarily bring back the best of memories for everyone, which is something Leah Paske, mum of an autistic teen living in Tallahassee in the US, can attest to.

Leah says she has “feelings of anxiety” when her son, Bo, goes to school each day – who will he have lunch with? And will people “stare at him when he flaps his hands”?

Leah’s worries were blown away for just one day when a team of football players from a neighbouring school came to visit Bo’s school. One of the players, Travis Rudolph, chose to sit and eat his lunch in the cafeteria with Bo.

Posting to Facebook, she couldn’t hide her happiness that he wasn’t left to eat alone.

“Travis Rudolph, a wide receiver at Florida State, and several other FSU players visited my sons school today,” she wrote.

“I’m not sure what exactly made this incredibly kind man share a lunch table with my son, but I’m happy to say that it will not soon be forgotten.”

“This is one day I didn’t have to worry if my sweet boy ate lunch alone, because he sat across from someone who is a hero in many eyes.

“Travis Rudolph thank you so much, you made this momma exceedingly happy, and have made us fans for life!”

Us, too, Travis. Us, too.

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