The Twitter Machine Pulls Through For Ibrahim

Once in while you hear about a story that made a huge positive impact on the world through use of social media. This story is about a man who was in a terrible car crash in Saudi Arabia and was left paralysed from the crash. He was hospitalized for a couple months, bed ridden, with no visits from family or friends. The forlorn, broken man began to reach his breaking point of complete hopelessness and began giving up on his life.

Instead of  making that final surrender that we will all pass through sooner or later in life he thought he would make one more attempt at connecting with the world. With limited physical ability to connect on his on measure he asked a staff member to help him reach through his social media accounts and the #1 retweeted message in Saudi Arabia history was born. “My name is Ibrahim, and I am hospitalized at King Khalid Hospital. I had a car accident which left me paralysed and I have no one to visit me. My father and my brothers have ignored me all this time. I also have another wish. I wish someone could help me get treated for a bone marrow transplant in Germany.”

Within 24 hours of his Tweet being sent out, #visitibrahim began to pop up in the Tweets of thousands of social media accounts in Saudi Arabia and then the unexpected began to take place. Hundreds of people began to flock to King Khalid University Hospital in the capital city of Riyadh to show a complete stranger love and support. The locals not only brought a warm heart but also showered the amazed man with gifts ranging from money to pizza, and flowers to help lift his spirits. To blow Ibrahim away even more, his second wish was granted as well. Several people started to donate money towards the cost of his operation. Over $130,000 was raised, money that he and his family could never be able to summon alone.

I love this story for so many reasons, but the message that really stuck with me was the unmatched power of connection. Just when one man thinks he is completely down and out for the count, a miracle takes place and a community of strangers are brought together in the name of love and kindness.

Now go out today and see how many other lives you can brighten and change for the better in your very own community!

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