One of the most essential things a child needs is a home filled with the basic necessities, like educational materials and a comfortable bed. Unfortunately, not every child is fortunate enough to have these things. When eight-year-old Daeyer Neely, who had spent his entire life sleeping on the streets, was given the chance to receive his own bed, his joy was immeasurable.
Daeyer’s life had been far from ordinary. He had been homeless since he was two years old, as his mother, Dionna, lost her job, leading to their loss of housing. According to a report by NBC News in January 2018, in the year before the report, Daeyer and Dionna had moved into a shelter in Detroit, Michigan, while hoping to qualify for public housing.
Adjusting to his new environment at school had been difficult for Daeyer, but his mother explained that to secure their own home, they would have to go through this challenging time.
When they finally qualified for public housing in November 2017, the transition wasn’t easy. Without furniture, Daeyer had to sleep on a pile of blankets. But luck was on their side when a charity called Humble Design stepped in to transform their home with donated items from the community.
Julie Nagle, the executive director of Humble Design, shared that the organization’s mission is to “transform your residence with donated things from the community… We turn it into a home for them.” The once-empty house was completely transformed into a welcoming home, complete with a dining table, crockery, and, most importantly, Daeyer’s own bedroom, filled with a bed, toys, and decorations.
Dionna, determined to improve her family’s life, was focused on furthering her education. Moving into this new home marked the beginning of a new chapter for them.
When Daeyer entered his new room, his reaction was captured on video, showing the sheer happiness in his eyes. Overwhelmed with emotion, he broke down in tears, as the years of hardship had clearly weighed heavily on him. Seeking comfort, he embraced his mother in a tight hug.
The video touched many people online, with viewers expressing their feelings of both joy and sadness. One person commented, “It makes my heart happy to watch, but it breaks my heart that so many children still don’t have access to these basic essentials. Please donate whatever you can to help families struggling to make ends meet.”
Another viewer shared, “When I watched the full video of them seeing their new house for the first time, I cried so hard it was embarrassing. This little guy is so adorable, and seeing how happy and grateful he was just made me smile. I’m so happy they have a safe, beautiful place to call home.”
Others commented on Daeyer’s courage and expressed admiration for his mother. One person wrote, “Oh, he is such a brave little guy. All the pain and stress he’s been through came out in those tears. I’m so happy for him and his mother.” Another person praised Dionna for never giving up, saying, “Respect to his mom for never giving up. God bless them both.”