A picture of two second-graders from Reidsville, North Carolina has gone viral for inspiring everyone who sees it to take a moment to be thankful for their best friend.
In early October, Tara Monday was driving with her two children, Leila and Rush, in Greensboro, North Carolina when another driver swerved into their lane. Monday recounts the head-on collision, one of approximately 5.5 million car accidents that take place in the United States, as the most frightening moment of the lives of each member of her family. While she and Leila were admitted to the hospital and discharged in an orderly fashion, her son Rush received internal injuries from the crash that required surgery.
According to Monday, Rush was reluctant to get back up and walk after the surgery. Although Rush didn’t have a spinal cord injury, 35% of which result from auto and motorcycle accidents every year, he had been bedridden for days.
“He’s only 7. He was in a lot of pain. And he didn’t want to move, he did not want to get up and walk,” said Monday.
That’s when motivation from Rush’s best friend came into play. Rush has been friends with Quinton Neal since they were in preschool. According to both of their parents, the two boys have been inseparable ever since. They often dress alike and call themselves “brothers from another mother.” Their connection is so close that despite their differing skin colors, they often refer to themselves as twins.
As soon as Monday told her son that Quinton was coming to visit him, Rush immediately starting getting his motivation back. He said that he would get up and walk once Quinton was there. Eight-year-old Quinton was worried at first too. According to his mother Shamicka Neal, he broke down in tears when he first heard of his friend’s accident. After his mom told him that he needed to be strong when he visited the hospital, Quinton said that he would so that Rush could be strong again as well.
Once Quinton was there, Rush agreed to try to walk again as long as Quinton was beside him. The two walked side-by-side down the hospital hallway, with Rush hunched over and leaning on Quinton for support. Rush’s family captured the precious moment on video, which soon went viral.
Within a few days the hospital threw Rush a party to celebrate his recovery. About a dozen family members and friends came to show him how proud they were, and of course, Quinton was right there with him too.
While approximately 3 million people in the United States are injured in car accidents every year, recovery is possible with the emotional and physical support of friends like Quinton. In an emotional post on Facebook, Rush’s mother expressed her unending gratitude for the bond between the two boys.
“They’re more than friends. More than best friends. They truly are brothers. This world is a better place because of their love for one another,” wrote Rush’s mom, who naturally feels a mother’s love for Quinton as well.