Public Media from Michigan State University

Michigan teenager gets Birthday Gift from Deceased Father

An eastern Michigan teen whose father recently died has received a surprise birthday gift from him posthumously.

Video footage shows 16-year-old Johnny Crow tearfully accepting a Dean Razorback guitar from the Port Huron Music Center as a birthday gift from his father, John Crow.

John Crow died at the age of 49 after a heart attack in April.

The music center’s owner, Pete Kruse, says John Crow ordered the guitar in January for his son. After the death, Kruse contacted Johnny’s 20-year-old sister, Chandler Crow, about the gift.

Chandler Crow captured footage of the birthday surprise, which has been viewed more than 6 million times on Facebook and became popular on Reddit on Thursday.

Johnny says the supportive messages and shared stories of grief have helped him cope.

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