Diner with disability, mom touched by server's kind act
RALEIGH -- Lee Bondurant is shocked by the compassion one server bestowed upon him at a Raleigh restaurant. Bondurant has cerebral palsy and it's hard for him to eat on his own. He was struggling to feed himself during a meal at 42nd Street Oyster Bar. His server saw, walked over, and lent a helping hand. Literally.
The server fed the 51-year-old his dinner.
"That was the ultimate kindness he showed me," Bondurant said.
He says he usually doesn't want people to help him. He likes to be independent and do for himself, but he was touched by the server's generosity and let his guard down.
"I really appreciate what he did, an act of kindness," Bondurant said.
Bondurant was having dinner with his mom, Linda. She was trying to feed both of them at the same time.
"For a total stranger to come up really touches a mother's heart, especially when your child is special needs," said mom Linda Bondurant.
ABC11 tried to speak with the server, who goes by the nickname "Five."
Unfortunately, he's been under the weather and was out of work sick Thursday night. From what we know, he's in college right now and putting himself through graduate school.
His bosses are singing his praises.
"We're fortunate to have somebody like him working for us," said 42nd Street manager Ryan Tyson. "I felt a great sense of pride to be part of an organization that has so many talented individuals, who truly have that hospitality gene."
Bondurant plans to see his new friend again pretty soon. He explains his birthday is coming up in July and he will be celebrating at the same restaurant.
"To find someone that kind in a world like today, that is a hard thing to find. You don't find it every day," Bondurant said.
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