Parent of Autistic Kid Shares Touching Story of How Apple Employee's Awesome Act of Kindness Lifted Her Spirit

The two later reconnected on Facebook.

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Image via Complex Original
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A small but profound act of kindness had a lasting impact on a woman and her son in Nashville earlier this month, and the touching moment of humanity started with an iPad. LynnMarie Rink took her 9-year-old son, James, to a local Apple store in search of a new iPad after a friend and charity organizer offered to cover the cost. James, who was born with Down syndrome and diagnosed with autism three years ago, uses the device to communicate and had been using his mother's iPhone since breaking his old tablet.

While shopping, James reportedly became distracted by something outside the store and accidentally ran into one of Apple's signature clear glass walls. "The sound was horrific and he fell flat over and then he hit his head again on the floor," Rink tells WKRN of her son's potentially detrimental accident. "Andrew came over and he sat down and he just looked at me and he just said, 'What can I do for you?'" Rink recalls. "He might as well have given me a million dollars."

Instead of asking Rink and her son to follow him to the register, Andrew decided to join a recovering James on the floor to help him set up his new iPad. "That moment reminded me that there are good people in this world and that there will always be people to care for James," Rink adds, who was later able to track down the thoughtful Apple employee on Facebook to thank him once again for his kindness, to which he replied:

"Hey Lynn, I want to say thank you so much for those kind words! I began working at Apple in hopes of having fulfilling moments like this. Post Apple my hopes are to work within the realm of youth counseling. Thanks again for making my day!"

For more on autism and how you can help make a difference, please visit here.

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