Man with Down Syndrome has wholesome reaction on meeting his sister's boyfriend for the first time

Editor's note: This article was originally published on December 30, 2022. It has since been updated.

In Nashville, Tennessee, a lady just captured the touching moment when her brother rushed into the arms of her boyfriend for the first time. Lindsey Simon told Storyful that she had a feeling her Down syndrome brother Nate would "run and jump," so she hit the record button as Nate ran out of Nashville Airport's South Terminal and directly into her boyfriend's arms. The video, which was shared on TikTok, shows the young man, who is dressed in a flashy pineapple suit with a matching bucket hat, sprinting towards Riggin, 28, and dumping his bag before jumping into his arms.

Nate, according to Simon, has been asking everyone to be her boyfriend for years. "It's become our content basis," she added. "Me looking for a boyfriend and making videos about it. So our followers were constantly aware of how hard he wanted me to get one and how highly his opinion was valued." Nate and Riggin, she said, had been chatting on Snapchat and FaceTime every day.

"They brush their teeth together every night and truly have built such an amazing relationship," she said. Nate had been counting down the days until he met Riggin. Simon went on to say that one of the reasons she and Riggin "really hit it off" right away was because he had a sister with Down syndrome. This video won hearts all over the internet talking about how supportive her boyfriend is, not to mention that her brother has impeccable taste in fashion. One user on Reddit said, "He is definitely getting the ladies in that vacation suit lol." Another said, "Screw that, I need to know where he got that cool outfit?" A third said, 'Understanding? Any boyfriend would be privileged to be a part of that girl’s family. Her brother is the walking definition of DOPE." 

Another such wholesome story is that of the Geelong Football Club and Moorfoot, 29, who has Down syndrome. Cats captain Joel Selwood, had every right to make the event about himself and his teammates when he noticed Sam Moorfoot in the crowd during the victory lap in front of thousands of ecstatic Cats fans. He called him to the Melbourne Cricket Grounds so he could take part in the lap of honor, winning the hearts of all those watching the game. Selwood plucking Moorfoot out of the crowd on the Australian Football League grand final day was the "moment" of his life, said Moorfoot. "What a moment," Moorfoot spoke to AAP. “I’m very proud of my boys to win a premiership. Joel said he wanted to get me on the ground. That was the moment of my life, what an honor.”

Moorfoot was volunteering at the Cats Café when the GMHBA Stadium was renovated and the bistro closed. On the team's primary training day in 2015, he was promoted to headwater boy. He's been with the Cats for almost 7 years. Selwood admires Moorfoot and has already voiced his admiration for him. In August, Selwood, the AFL's first Disability Inclusion Ambassador, told The Age that he was supporting Moorfoot in the big game. “Sam has let everyone know about the big game this week. He’s not shy of that,” Selwood said. “He was even caught earlier in the week doing hot and cold recovery with the boys at the club. We’re all really excited for him.” Describing their bond to The Age, Selwood said, “We share a very special friendship, and I consider him like family. He has my back and I have his.”

Selwood made certain that Moorfoot didn't miss out on his special day. After lifting Moorfoot over the barrier and onto the MCG, Cats player Jeremy Cameron took his own medal and put it around Moorfoot's neck.