A 17-year-old fought back tears as he opened a small yellow box on his birthday to find the keys to his first-ever car — a surprise from his single mom, who had secretly saved for months to make it happen. Jessie Briseno, 34, from Corpus Christi, Texas, gave birth to her son, Jaden, as a teenager. The two “pretty much grew up together,” she said, calling him her best friend. Money was often tight as Jessie juggled college and work while raising her son, though help from her parents kept them afloat. But for Jaden’s milestone birthday, she was determined to buy his first car herself. Jessie worked overtime at the hospital to save for the gift, planning to present it at a party on August 24. Then, weeks before the event, tragedy struck: Jaden was hit in the foot by a stray bullet at a party, requiring surgery and leaving Jessie facing unpaid leave from work. She feared the money saved for the car would have to cover bills instead. But after she shared her story on Facebook, strangers donated more than $2,000 through GoFundMe and offered to cover the party’s food, decorations, and even the venue. With the car secured and the party back on, Jaden’s friends gathered to watch him open the box of keys. Still on crutches from his injury, he made his way outside and saw his new ride for the first time.
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