Teen boy losing his mom to cancer moved to tears by unexpected kind gesture to help him cope

Finding out that a loved one has terminal cancer and that they are not getting better is possibly the worst news one might have to live with. When author Elisa Beth Magagna, who is also known by her pen name EC Stilson, was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma, her 15-year-old son Trey took it especially hard. In a video that's touched the hearts of thousands online, Magagna shared how her son was a good young man who was determined to hold his head up high despite being dealt one too many bad cards in a row.

In the TikTok video, Magagna documented a moment when her son found a ray of sunshine in the form of a Maine Coon cat he'd had his heart set on for a while. But bringing the cat home was a rollercoaster ride of emotions and hardships for the teenager. Even as Trey continued to get good grades and help his mother and the household to the best of his abilities, he got "extra disheartened" following the death of his beloved Doberman who used to sleep in his room every night.

“After that, Trey made up his mind to not let this get him down,” Magagna wrote in a text overlay on the video. “For months he saved up as much as he could and decided to ask if 'Mermazing Maine Coons' would take payments so he could buy a kitten.” Maine Coon kittens typically cost about $3,500 and Trey had only been able to save $300. Sitting with his family in a meeting with Dana and James, the owners of Mermazing Maine Coons, he asked if they would be able to work with him to set up a payment plan even though he knew that's not something they normally entertained.

“I’d train the cat well. And I never had my very own animal—not just a family pet,” he told them, adding that he would get a job to make the rest of the payments for the cat within the next year. “If we raised it I would try to make it become the best version of itself and the happiest version it could be." Dana then told Trey that she "wasn't sure if they had any kittens that would fit what he was looking for at the moment, but she would run up and get one of the kittens and they’ll see what happens."

Little did Trey know that he was about to get the Maine Coon kitten for free. He didn't have to make any payments and there were "no stipulations except he had to keep good grades and take extra, extra great care of him." Trey sobbed hard, thanked Dana and hugged her. “Oh, I am so glad I could bring you some happiness, honey,” she told Trey. “My battle against cancer has been so hard on my family, but I’m so grateful for the angels we’ve met along the way. Congratulations, Trey and happy forever to 'Borah,'” Magagna concluded in the text overlay. 

Social media users who watched the video couldn't help but leave heartfelt comments for Magagna's family. @thejennjennzz wrote, "You can tell it took him so much strength to ask them for something they don’t normally do. Heartwarming all around." @skinnysketch19 shared, "I was young when my mom got terminal cancer and passed away. That cat lady gave him the exact gift he would need to heal in the future, a friend." 

@guardian_angel_00 commented, "Great story! guys remember there are always tons of great cats and kittens for free or close to free at any local rescue! Rescue cats are just as great." @karatemomof2 added, "Watching his bravery in asking if they would do payment plans so he could have a kitty just made me bawl. I could feel how much he wanted this. Young man, you are so strong and your heart is so true. I wish you many amazing times with your new kitten."