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While traveling with her boyfriend in Nevada, Josephine Ortega received a message from a fellow church member about a family in Texas desperately trying to retrieve a stuffed monkey they’d left at a hotel in California. Even though she was on vacation, as a mother of two young daughters, Josephine felt compelled to help. She immediately drove to the hotel, which was about an hour away, retrieved the toy, and decided to document its journey back home in a series of fun photos.
The return journey included stops where the stuffie enjoyed a Dr. Pepper and watched “Minions,” which just so happened to be a couple of the favorite things of Derek, the nine-year-old boy who owns the toy. Upon returning to Texas, Josephine surprised Derek with the monkey, leading to a heartfelt reunion.
Derek’s mom later shared the story on social media, where it went viral, racking up hundreds of thousands of views and comments. Josephine was touched by the overwhelmingly positive response and proud of the example she set for her daughters. She hopes to build a connection with Derek's family and is planning on a play date with her daughters and him soon.
Source: PEOPLE