Watch CBS News

Mom Looking For Good Samaritan Who Helped Son Buy Her Christmas Present

Follow CBSPHILLY Facebook  | Twitter

INDIANAPOLIS (CNN) -- It's true what they say one decision can make a world of difference. It's what one Hoosier woman is saying after a total stranger helped her 11-year-old son buy her a coat for Christmas.

The stranger didn't know how much the coat was needed and what the gesture has done. Gabe Wattley, 11, only had $20, but wanted to do something nice for his mom while shopping at Target.

"He had actually bought me a winter coat. For a lot of reasons that, it choked me up," Gabe's mom LaDonna Wattley explained.

LaDonna Wattley needed a winter coat badly. "For the last two years, the coat I was wearing was all shredded up inside.The lining was shredded up inside. I didn't even know he realized that. I didn't say anything about it. You do what you have to do," LaDonna Wattley said.

"I wanted to show that I know that she loves me, appreciates me, and takes care of me," Gabe Wattley said.

He couldn't afford to pay full price. This was when a complete stranger stepped in.

She gave the cashier $60 to help pay for the coat. All of this was happening as LaDonna was still shopping.

"People who were in line were kind of smiling and nodding and I noticed some of the Target employees. He's like cover your eyes mom, cover your eyes. I didn't know what was going on. I just did what I was told," LaDonna Wattley said.

So on Christmas morning, when she opened her gift she was moved to tears. She posted the kind act on social media and it's been shared close to 70,000 times.

"What everybody has written has said you know Gabe renewed my spirit in people and that woman my renewed my spirit in the good in people," LaDonna Wattley said.

She wants to find out who the good Samaritan is and simply thank her; also tell her how powerful the gesture has been. "Thank you, thank you, thank you so much," Gabe Wattley said.

Gabe said they stranger also offered to buy gloves and a hat too.

Gabe said he told her no thank you because, "I didn't want her paying anymore money cause that was basically her money".

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.