Little Boy’s Biggest Wish Will Surprise and Inspire You
Ten-year-old Keegan Keppner was able to knock one item off his bucket list this week: feeding the homeless.
Though he's faced his own battles along the way, the young cancer survivor has always put others first, according to his stepfather, Steve Magray. This week, Keegan proved his resilience when he fed 30-40 people living in a tent city in his hometown of Eugene, Oregon with food from his pantry.
According to Keegan, he saw the homeless around town, and couldn't stand to see them suffer any longer.
"When I saw this homeless guy on the news, this guy in the wheelchair, and he was crying, that's what made me feel sad," Keegan tells the Good News blog. "He had no place to go… the first time I saw a homeless camp, I felt very sad. My mom gave me a dollar to give to one of the ladies that were next to us. The lady smiled at me and said thank you and it made me feel very happy."
In December, Keegan asked his parents if he could give out their Christmas dinner to those on the streets, but Steve told him they weren't in a position at the moment to make that happen. They would follow through as soon as they could afford it. Less, than a month later, Steve fulfilled his promise. He and Keegan cooked up a pot of rice and beans on Saturday, and brought it down to a camp on the street.
For his first time in an impoverished area, the brave boy says he was nervous at first, but surprised by the "creativeness of their homes."
"I was just scared because I never went into a homeless camp before or even close to one," Keegan remarks. "They responded with thank-yous and God-bless-yous and they shook my hand and gave me a hug. I told them that they are very nice people and that I also cared about them. I told them that they are equal us just like how we are equal to them."
In addition to serving dinner, Keegan and Steve sat down and ate with the homeless citizens, and even returned the next day with a pot of chili. Steve says Keegan has always been generous, even when he was suffering himself. When he was only 22 months old, the Good Samaritan was diagnosed with a terminal form of Glioma, a cancerous tumor that affects the brain and spine. He spent many days in the hospital undergoing chemotherapy, and thankfully, his cancer is now in remission. Steve recalls a time in the hospital when Keegan gave away his handheld video game to another young patient in need.
"He literally has no mean bones in his body," Steve remarks.
Despite the grim situation Keegan witnessed at the homeless camp, he told his stepfather they should come back in the summer, set up a tent, and join the community for a night. Regardless of what others might think, Keegan only saw something positive, and people who needed his assistance.
Keegan adds, "No matter what problems you are faced with, there's always room to give a little."
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