Giraffe Gives Terminally Ill Zoo Keeper Final Kiss Goodbye

Aug 24, 2020 by apost team

Mario Ejis has worked at Rotterdam's Diergaarde Blijdorp zoo in the Netherlands for 25 years. Throughout his time there, he has made several great memories and really connected with most of the animals. Mario worked as maintenance staff in charge of caring for the creatures in the zoo.

A few years into his time there, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He was not able to go to work, but in 2014, he made one last request and expressed his desire to visit the zoo. On his final visit, one giraffe surprised Mario with a farewell kiss. 

Mario was already diagnosed with a mental disability before the development of cancer. He was unable to speak coherent sentences and could not properly convey how he felt, however, the look on his face was all the doctors needed to realize how he truly felt.

Because of his terminal condition, Mario was confined to his hospital bed. The Ambulance Wish Foundation came to his rescue and transported him to the zoo where he could meet his long-lost friends.

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When they arrived at the giraffes, a miracle occurred. The giraffes sensed that something was off and they treated Mario with the most caution. They gently touched him with their eyes full of sadness. It was if they knew exactly what their previous caretaker was going through.

According to Fox 25, Kees Veldboer, the founder of the program commented on the giraffes' reactions:

"These animals recognized him, and felt that things aren't going well with him."

Mario was very glad to see the zoo one last time. Throughout his visit, his face was lit up with joy. He had finally gotten to see his beloved animals and say goodbye to his fellow co-workers.

The Ambulance Wish Foundation is a charity organization that grants terminally ill patients their last wish. Whether it be to visit Disney World or visit another state, this foundation makes every effort to fulfill these wishes. It was originally founded in the Netherlands but has expanded to the United Kingdom, where it has accumulated over a thousand volunteers.

Mario's last visit to the zoo went viral on social media in 2014. The foundation had uploaded it on their Facebook page. His story was quickly taken by other news companies and shared on websites as it rapidly gained popularity. The story warmed the hearts of many. Almost all viewers commented on how the giraffes were able to sense Mario's pain.

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