Girl, 8, Says She’ll Buy Her Grandma A Dream House, Years Later Makes Good On Promise For Christmas

Dec 12, 2022 by apost team

The question plagues holiday shoppers this time of year: What do you get for someone that has everything? And what do you get for someone who deserves so much more? All the online gift lists don't seem to cover it. Novelty socks and decorative mugs won't cut it when the recipient is truly someone special. 

While Santa surely has something for everyone on his list, it can be hard to find the perfect present for family members. Still, one Oregon woman managed to find her 83-year-old grandmother the gift of a lifetime in 2021.

Janita Badon posted on her Facebook about the incredibly inspiring purchase and shared videos of her grandmother's shock and appreciation when she wheeled through the door that December. Janina wrote about how proud she was to be able to finally "make good on (her) promise to her (grandmother), cause it's been on (her) mind for a while." She signed her post, "love you Irma Badon." 

The young Badon's generosity had come both from recent tragedy as well as lifelong happiness. Irma had supported her granddaughter throughout her life, but personally met with heartbreak when she lost both her husband and son.

Janita spoke about her grandmother's loss as well as her fortitude: “She was married to my grandfather for 50 years. I would guess she was hurting more than I was." However, Irma stayed strong. “She said, ‘Everything is going to be OK.'"

When she was a girl, Janita drew similar strength from her elder. She and her siblings would visit their grandparents' house on Northeast Morgan Street after school. “Every single day. We were packed like sardines,” Janita recalled. “And she never asked our parents what time they were coming back.”

Drawing on those memories, Janita bought her grandmother a house. 

The idea had long been with Janita. “She’s been promising me a house since she was 8 years old,” Irma admitted. The granddaughter had witnessed her family struggle with finding a place big enough to fit all of them. "She had nine children. I’m sure the money went to them." Janita recalled. 

She wanted to fulfill that promise she'd made as a little girl. After contacting a realtor, she found a place that seemed perfect. “It just felt like her,” she recalled. “The bedroom? The two doors open at the same time. It has a walk-in closet. It felt like it was fit for a queen.”

She then asked her family to gather at the mysterious address. Relatives, unsure of what the mystery announcement could be, assumed something else was afoot. Janita said, “They thought I was getting married.”

Irma arrived to find a bow, and Janita was there to hand her the keys. She later told reporters: "(My grandmother) deserves to be comfortable. As I told her, she never once lied to me or made me a promise that hasn’t come true. I wanted to give her the same thing.”

Janita later posted a video of the holiday surprise. In it, an emotional Irma is helped through the door of her new home. Elated but in shock, she reminded her family of the promise Janita had made to her all those years ago. 

Remembering the emotional event, Janita wrote, "Christmas was a dream come true … I really wish I could give her the world twice."

apost.com

What's the best or most surprising gift you've ever received? Let us know — and be sure to pass this inspiring article on to friends and family!