Kids Safety Network

Heartwarming: Military Dad Surprises Son At School, Then Young Boy Says 3 Words That Break His Heart

Both precious and heartbreaking…

Heartwarming: Military Dad Surprises Son At School, Then Young Boy Says 3 Words That Break His Heart

Being in the military and enduring deployments is tough for our men and women in uniform, but it is also incredibly difficult for the family they leave behind. Spouses become single parents for the time they are gone and have to keep things going at home, and children have to be without one of their parents for extended periods of time.

This can be confusing for young kids especially. It’s hard to explain to a three-year-old that mommy or daddy is just gone for a little while and will be coming back soon. Their loss can feel like abandonment.

The Kohn family knows this firsthand. Gabe Kohn serves in the U.S. Air Force 8th Fighter Wing and has been deployed to South Korea since February.

Gabe has been separated from his wife, Frankie, and two kids for about eight months. During that time he has missed a lot of big milestones, such as his daughter’s first birthday. He’s had to accept that’s just part of the job, but it doesn’t make it any easier.

After months of being gone, Gabe was finally going to be able to come home. He couldn’t wait to see his family!

He decided to surprise his 3-year-old son Micahel with his homecoming. On Wednesday, he showed up at the young boy’s school and, when his back was turned, called out, “Hey Michael!”

Michael stopped what he was doing and turned around, recognizing the familiar voice. When he turned and saw his dad – his hero – standing there, he raced over and jumped into his arms.

“You came back!” he exclaimed.

Those words were both precious and heartbreaking. Gabe knew his son was so happy to see him, but it broke his heart to know that his son spent every day wondering if he would ever see his dad again.

INSPIRATIONAL Military Dad Surprises Son At School, Then Young Boy Says 3 Words That Break His Heart
Both precious and heartbreaking.

ByJessica BrownPublished on October 21, 2017 SHARE TWEET COMMENT
Being in the military and enduring deployments is tough for our men and women in uniform, but it is also incredibly difficult for the family they leave behind. Spouses become single parents for the time they are gone and have to keep things going at home, and children have to be without one of their parents for extended periods of time.

This can be confusing for young kids especially. It’s hard to explain to a three-year-old that mommy or daddy is just gone for a little while and will be coming back soon. Their loss can feel like abandonment.

The Kohn family knows this firsthand. Gabe Kohn serves in the U.S. Air Force 8th Fighter Wing and has been deployed to South Korea since February.

Gabe has been separated from his wife, Frankie, and two kids for about eight months. During that time he has missed a lot of big milestones, such as his daughter’s first birthday. He’s had to accept that’s just part of the job, but it doesn’t make it any easier.

After months of being gone, Gabe was finally going to be able to come home. He couldn’t wait to see his family!

He decided to surprise his 3-year-old son Micahel with his homecoming. On Wednesday, he showed up at the young boy’s school and, when his back was turned, called out, “Hey Michael!”

Michael stopped what he was doing and turned around, recognizing the familiar voice. When he turned and saw his dad – his hero – standing there, he raced over and jumped into his arms.

“You came back!” he exclaimed.

Those words were both precious and heartbreaking. Gabe knew his son was so happy to see him, but it broke his heart to know that his son spent every day wondering if he would ever see his dad again.

Since Gabe has been home, Frankie said their son has not left his side.

“Michael is very attached to his daddy since being back,” she said.

Sadly, Gabe will have to go back to South Korea in early November, but the family is soaking up every precious moment they have together now.

Thank you, Kohn family, and all the other military families out there, for the tremendous sacrifices you make for our freedom!

Testimony continued this week in the murder trial of Isauro Aguirre, the California man accused of torturing and murdering Gabriel Fernandez, his girlfriend’s 8-year-old son, allegedly because he believed the boy was gay.

Gabriel Fernandez’s Teacher Says He Told Her: ‘Sometimes, My Mom Makes Me Bleed’

On Thursday, Jennifer Garcia, who was Gabriel’s first-grade teacher, took the witness stand and told the court the boy had once confided in her, allegedly telling her, “Sometimes, my mom makes me bleed,” reports NBC Los Angeles.

Gabriel died in 2013 from a skull fracture, shattered ribs and severe burns. Burrowed into his skin were BB pellets; one was also found in his lung, according to local ABC affiliate KABC-TV. Aguirre, 37, and the boy’s 34-year-old mother, Pearl Fernandez, have both pleaded not guilty to his murder.

The mother’s trial is pending. Both defendants face a possible death sentence.

Two days after he was found unresponsive by emergency medical technicians inside his Los Angeles home, Gabriel died.

Gabriel’s teacher said Thursday it was obvious to her — as well as other school staffers — the boy was allegedly living in an abusive home. ABC reports Garcia testified that Gabriel was absent often, and frequently came into class with bruises.

Garcia testified that in late 2012, Gabriel allegedly told her his mother had beaten him with a belt that had a metal buckle. She called California’s Department of Children and Family Services, NBC reports. Jurors were played a recording of the call that initiated the agency’s investigation into the alleged abuse.

“‘Sometimes, my mom makes me bleed’,” Garcia quoted the boy as telling her. “And I say, ‘Where?’ He said, ‘Well, on my bottom.’”

NBC reports that Garcia also told the court she once addressed with Gabriel about bruises she noticed on his face. Initially, he lied, telling her he had had a bad fall. When pressed, the boy allegedly told her his mother had fired a BB gun at his face.

“I asked him, ‘Why did you lie? Why didn’t you tell me?’ And he said, ‘Because when I tell you, and that lady comes, I get hurt worse,’” Garcia said, adding it was apparent the child was referring to a social worker.

She also talked about Gabriel’s embarrassment at being sent to school in girl’s clothes. NBC reports Garcia said she wondered if it was some kind of a “sick game” by Aguirre and Fernandez.

“It was almost like they were seeing how far they would go,” Garcia said from the stand.

After the boy died, Garcia said she found a note he had written in the desk at school. It read, according to reports: “I love you, Mom. Gabriel is a good boy.”

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