KALISPELL — The Kalispell community threw a surprise birthday parade on Tuesday for a Kalispell teen who has a blood disorder.
A line of steady cars, trucks and fire engines poured into 16-year-old Nathan Brewer's driveway to celebrate his birthday -- safely from a distance. Nathan's mom Nicole Cooper Christiansen told MTN News that the teen suffers from a blood disorder which puts him at a higher risk during the coronavirus outbreak.
"He doesn't have a clotting factor like the average person does," she said. "So, he's typically had to endure a lot of yucky procedures. Like bone marrow, aspirations and injections."
When Kalispell resident Jennifer Cale found out about Nathan's birthday and illness, she knew she had to help.
"A mom posted about a pretty sick 16-year-old boy and asking just for friends to send him cards. And my other friend saw it and had seen a story about another town that did a car parade," said Cale. "Following six-foot distance, but safely doing it for another kid. And I loved the idea."
Cooper Christiansen said her son is so susceptible he can't even go in public at all, even if he's wearing a mask. He's been stuck inside the house and told MTN News he was totally surprised by the birthday parade.
"It was kinda interesting because I wasn't expecting something so big," he said. "But I was really blown away."
Cooper Christiansen wants to thank the entire community for showing up and giving her son an amazing birthday surprise. Meanwhile, Nathan told MTN News that he was looking forward to celebrating with some birthday cake later on Tuesday.
