Ohio mom helped by repo man gets more presents

Associated Press

GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio

Two weeks after a man went to repossess a car and ended up offering to help cover a woman’s payments, his colleagues showed up with another surprise: stacks of Christmas gifts for her 10-year-old daughter.

A repo man from Relentless Recovery had come for Diana Parks’ car but wept at the story of a single mother diagnosed with a pituitary tumor that gives her seizures and trouble walking. It made her unable to work as a pharmacy technician and forced her to drop out of Cleveland State University.

“I was working so hard so we could do better,” she said. “And then I got sick.”

He offered to give up half his pay until her delinquent car payments were caught up, but the company decided to cover those costs. Then the staff divvied up her daughter’s holiday wish list.

“I am overwhelmed with joy,” Parks told The Plain Dealer on Wednesday as employees brought boxes of Christmas presents to her Garfield Heights home.

The company also established an online fundraising campaign that has generated thousands of dollars for the family.

Parks said the kindness shown by the employees has restored her optimism.

“I am floating on a cloud,” she said. “God works in mysterious ways. We are so blessed.”