A Kentucky teacher’s act of kindness is going viral.
10-year-old Ryan Neighbors, a fourth-grader at Jefferson County Public Schools, wanted to attend a class trip to the Falls of the Ohio State Park. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem possible for Ryan, who has Spina bifida and uses a wheelchair.
Ryan’s mother, Shelly King, said her daughter often cannot accompany her classmates on field trips because the locations aren’t always accessible.
“They are going on a field trip to Falls of Ohio today. Obviously, NOT accessible,” King wrote in the post, which has been shared hundreds of times. “I was preparing for an ‘alternate field trip day’ when a male teacher reached out and said, ‘I’m happy to tote her around on the falls all day!’ She is sooooo excited to do this independent from me.”
Jim Freeman, Ryan’s next-door classroom teacher, used a special backpack to carry her through the outdoor terrain at the park.
“As soon as we got her strapped in, she’s like, this is the part I’ve been waiting for,” Freeman said.
Thanks to Freeman, Ryan was able to enjoy a field trip with her classmates and explore Falls of Ohio for the first time.
“When I got to see the fossils and stuff, I was like, wow, that’s like, really cool. I haven’t gotten to see that before,” Ryan told WLKY News.
The gesture meant so much to Ryan and her family that King wanted to get the message out. She posted the unexpected act of kindness to Facebook on Friday. By Monday, there were thousands of comments, reactions, and shares of support.
“Never feel like you’re left alone,” Ryan told WLKY News.
Jim Freeman’s act of kindness will likely never be forgotten by Ryan, her family, and many others.
