At the Eureka Trucker Parade, a young autistic man had the experience of a lifetime, which was a touching demonstration of community spirit. A local trucker's generosity and the reach of social media transformed an otherwise disappointing day into one that was out of this world.
A last-minute mechanical breakdown in Parker's initial vehicle nearly dashed his dream of participating in the 35th Annual Trucker's Christmas Parade in Eureka. But a man from Redding named Mike Divine did something completely altruistic that restored Parker's hope.
No matter how difficult Parker's autism has been, his enthusiasm for semi-trucks has remained unwavering. Parker, whose enthusiasm for semi-trucks is well-known in the Northstate trucking industry, has gained a little YouTube following thanks to his "truck-spotting" exploits.
After Parker voiced his interest in joining the Trucker's Christmas Parade, his family reached out to the neighborhood for support. After Parker's family posted a brief message on Facebook, more than 30 businesses and individual truckers expressed their willingness to help make Parker's dream a reality.
Unfortunately, the originally planned ride experienced technical difficulties in the days leading up to the parade, which was a major setback. Mike Divine, a native of Redding, ended up being a hero despite everyone's first fears. Divine, who had volunteered his truck to transport Parker, canceled his week-end plans and drove his family to Blue Lake, Parker's home.
In addition to saving Parker's dream, Divine decorated his vehicle for the parade in advance. As Divine recounted the event, she emphasized the delightful partnership by sharing a comical story about Parker trying to untangle the lights.
"I would hand [Parker] the lights from up on top of the load, well his job was to feed it down through it," Divine said to KRCR. As I was laughing my head off on the way down, he kept shouting "I'm sorry, I'm sorry" as he tangled the first string. I said, "Don't feel bad about it; I simply want to know how you did it so I can undo it."
Kelly, Parker's mom, thanked Divine and the whole Northstate trucking community for the kindness and compassion her son had received.
"Love is essential for everyone," Divine said. Everyone wants to feel liked and welcomed, so I figured I may as well make his night memorable. Him alone is the focus.
A last-minute mechanical breakdown in Parker's initial vehicle nearly dashed his dream of participating in the 35th Annual Trucker's Christmas Parade in Eureka. But a man from Redding named Mike Divine did something completely altruistic that restored Parker's hope.
No matter how difficult Parker's autism has been, his enthusiasm for semi-trucks has remained unwavering. Parker, whose enthusiasm for semi-trucks is well-known in the Northstate trucking industry, has gained a little YouTube following thanks to his "truck-spotting" exploits.
After Parker voiced his interest in joining the Trucker's Christmas Parade, his family reached out to the neighborhood for support. After Parker's family posted a brief message on Facebook, more than 30 businesses and individual truckers expressed their willingness to help make Parker's dream a reality.
Unfortunately, the originally planned ride experienced technical difficulties in the days leading up to the parade, which was a major setback. Mike Divine, a native of Redding, ended up being a hero despite everyone's first fears. Divine, who had volunteered his truck to transport Parker, canceled his week-end plans and drove his family to Blue Lake, Parker's home.
In addition to saving Parker's dream, Divine decorated his vehicle for the parade in advance. As Divine recounted the event, she emphasized the delightful partnership by sharing a comical story about Parker trying to untangle the lights.
"I would hand [Parker] the lights from up on top of the load, well his job was to feed it down through it," Divine said to KRCR. As I was laughing my head off on the way down, he kept shouting "I'm sorry, I'm sorry" as he tangled the first string. I said, "Don't feel bad about it; I simply want to know how you did it so I can undo it."
Kelly, Parker's mom, thanked Divine and the whole Northstate trucking community for the kindness and compassion her son had received.
"Love is essential for everyone," Divine said. Everyone wants to feel liked and welcomed, so I figured I may as well make his night memorable. Him alone is the focus.
