Girl, 7, Who Recently Lost Parents Smiles When a Young Boy Hugs Her to Cheer Her Up

A young girl suffered a heart-rending tragedy that would shatter even an adult's spirit — she lost both her parents less than two weeks apart. Fortunately, another youngster noticed the sadness in her eyes and decided to do something to remedy the situation.

Escaping tragedy and suffering isn't always in one's control, and when we go through trying circumstances, some of us believe they might never end. Amid such instances, having someone's support can make a world of difference in people's lives.

Offering love, kindness, and empathy to one another, especially in times of darkness and despair, triggers a chain reaction, multiplying the joys. A somewhat similar scenario unfolded in today's story, where a young, caring soul ended up doing something incredibly heartwarming.

Little Katty

Katalina Shope, also known as "Katty" by her family and friends, was a young girl from Kenosha, Wisconsin, who had experienced an extremely challenging time. She lived with her grandmother, Vickie Hunt, who was disabled and living on a limited budget.

Jaxson's primary motive behind the special event was to make his friend smile.

The Hardest Summer

In mid-July 2022, the youngster suffered an unspeakable tragedy — something that would break even an adult's heart into a million pieces. Hunt recalled:

"One of the first things Katty said to her (mother) was 'When are you going to better?' And she promised Katty she would get better, but she unfortunately broke that promise (sic)."

After losing her beloved mom, Katrina Shope, Katalina experienced another heartbreak when her adopted dad passed away nine days later. It was a summer that the young girl would never forget — a summer that would forever be etched in her mind as a painful memory.

The Best of Friends

Hunt noted that Katalina's adopted father was a kind-hearted man who had stepped up to be her dad and loved her immensely. Fortunately, the young girl had a friend in ten-year-old Jaxson Thomas. The two youngsters had met through Jaxson's godmother, Amanda Hanson.

Jaxson's mother, Autumn Thomas, described her son as a "little caring boy" who loved to help others. He was a Cub Scout and a volunteer at Great Lakes Church and God's Kitchen, a local non-profit organization.

He Wanted to Do More

One day, the young boy returned home from a playdate with Katalina and said, "Mom, she's really, really sad." Autumn recounted that she tried her best to explain to her boy the reason behind Katalina's sadness.

After that, she said her son asked if he could make her a basket with her favorite goodies. But when Jaxson woke up the next morning, he told his mother:

"I feel like God is speaking to me and we need to do more. I'm going to call Miss Arnetta."

Arnetta Griffin was the founder of God's Kitchen. Jaxson loved her with all his heart, and she reciprocated his feelings. So, when he approached her with the idea, Ms. Griffin instantly agreed. She recollected:

"Just like God talked to Jaxson, He talked to me. He said 'Plan it.' So I planned it."

A Special Day

When asked why he wanted to help the seven-year-old girl, Jaxson replied that she was his friend and that he would do anything for his friends. He also expressed:

"I was excited for her and I knew in that moment God was telling me to do that for her."

Thanks to Jaxson's caring, loving, and giving spirit, "Katalina's Day" came into existence — a day filled with joy, fun, celebration, and endless love, all for the young girl. Jaxson's primary motive behind the special event was to make his friend smile.

Helping His Friend

Katalina's Day will be held on Saturday, October 15, at St. Anthony's Church, Kenosha. The event is open to the public, who can come in from noon to 3 p.m. and enjoy a fun-filled day with free food and a bouncy house for the children.

The spectacular occasion became a reality thanks to Jaxson and Ms. Griffin. Anyone willing to donate can do so — some items that might help Katalina include winter clothing and shoes. The cash donations will be used to buy a new daybed, cycle, and roller skates.

People who'd like to donate should remember that Katalina loves pink, purple, and teal colors. She's fond of roller skating and watching movies, with Encanto being her favorite. The Wisconsin youngster also loves Elsa from "Frozen."

A Friendly Hug

Ms. Griffin doted on Jaxson's loving nature and said the world was in dire need of more children like him. The warm-hearted boy was also selected as 'Kenoshan of the Week' because of everything he did to help brighten his friend's day.

As for the beautiful friendship between Katalina and Jaxson, it will continue to strengthen with time. The little girl with nothing but sadness in her eyes since she lost her parents was finally able to smile, thanks to a hug from her lovely friend.

Jaxson's mother couldn't stop feeling proud of her sweet boy, who is also autistic. She noted that her son sometimes struggled to recognize his feelings but was always able to understand other people's emotions.

The Online Reaction

When the story of Jaxson and Katalina's lovely friendship was shared online, it warmed the hearts of several netizens, who couldn't help but flood the comments section:

"God bless them both. Their friendship will live for a lifetime."

— (@100060796003818) October 7, 2022

"So proud of you Jaxson he's our dear friend helping our our neighbor I'm so proud of these 2 Amazing children they truly are the most Awesome positive children (sic)."

— (@melissa.l.jones.3) October 7, 2022

"This boy's parents did a great job. What a sweet boy."

— (@zaiden.mimi.9) October 7, 2022

Hunt also thanked Jaxson and the entire community for stepping up for her granddaughter. What a heartwarming story highlighting love, friendship, and the power of giving and caring! Please share it with your family and friends.