People helping people, that’s what this is all about.
Steve Culbert is a second grade teacher at Gates Elementary in Davison Township, MI.
During an open house at the beginning of the school year, Steve noticed Shelley Reece, the mother of two former students, Avery and Alivia, attending without her husband, Luke Reece.
Shelley later informed Steve that Luke was actually in the hospital. Doctors found blood clots in Luke’s lungs and legs. A few days later, Luke suffered cardiac arrest and fell into a coma.
Steve had gotten to know the Reeces over the years, not only having taught Avery and Alivia, but because his own daughters were friends and classmates of the girls. He empathized with the family, telling Yahoo Lifestyle, “I know what it’s like to hurt as a kid, [because at age 11 I watched my 14-year-old brother battle and die from cancer.] Seeing my brother go through what he went through at that age — he was the strongest person I’ve ever known.”
Steve asked Shelley if it would be alright to check in on the girls from time to time and visit Luke in the hospital. He shares, “I wasn’t necessarily trying to be a father figure, just someone they knew that they could turn to. They have a great family. Their [dad’s] their everything.”
The school’s daddy-daughter dance was coming up, so Steve decided to invite Avery and Alivia to attend the dance with him and his two daughters, Hailey and Aliyah.
Before he could offer the invite to Avery and Alivia, Steve learned the girls were about to spend their last day with their father, as life support was being removed the following day.
Luke Reece passed away on September 19, at the young age of 32.
Eventually, the invitation went out, and the girls would be joining the Culbert trio for the dance less than a month after their dad’s passing.
The Culberts really wanted to make an event of the dance that started in the morning with Steve, his wife and daughters picking the Reeces up from their home and taking them to breakfast, the park, and then off to a hair appointment. Avery and Aliviah had already been invited to be part of their aunt’s wedding ceremony that day, so the freshly coiffed girls headed off for those duties.
Once the ceremony was over, Steve, Hailey and Aliyah went to pick up Avery and Alivia and head to the dance, but there was one more surprise waiting . . . A LIMO!
They danced the night away, then wrapped up with some ice cream from McDonald’s. Steve also noted to Yahoo Lifestyle that his daughters were thrilled to help bring joy to their friends during such a crucial time in their lives.
Of the Culberts consistent presence in her daughter’s lives, Shelley Reece shares, “It’s just so good that someone outside of the home is looking out from them. I just want to thank Mr. Culbert and everybody for making sure the girls had a night to remember.”
Steve, not liking to be the center of attention, tries to keep the focus on Luke, who was also an organ donor. He shares, “Shelley keeps getting rewarded by Luke’s love. Through his organ donations, he’s going to help up to 65 people.” Luke actually inspired Steve to become an organ donor, too, and hopes Luke’s story will inspire others.
People helping people, that’s what it’s all about.
(Yahoo)
