AUBURN — The crew of McDonald’s on Center Street surprised recovering 11-year-old bicyclist Jordan Norwood with a brand-new red Huffy bike Tuesday afternoon.
Jordan was run over by an SUV on Tall Pines Drive on Aug. 15. He was flown by medical helicopter to Maine Medical Center in Portland to receive emergency treatment, and was later moved to the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. He has since been discharged.
According to Norman Norwood, the boy’s father, Jordan is back in school full time and doing well around people. “He’s got some nerve damage on the side of his head, which he’ll have to learn to work around,” Norwood said, “but his cast is coming off tomorrow, which he’s very excited about.”
Before Jordan’s accident, he had grown close to the McDonald’s crew at 138 Center St. in Auburn. He was especially close to Stacy Boutot, an employee who knew he would only eat his burger with light ketchup.
“He’s always been shy and reserved,” Boutot said, “so he would come at night when there are less people here. He always greeted us with a smile and he won the hearts of a lot of people.”
When Jordan first went into the hospital, Boutot was devastated and wanted desperately to help this boy to whom she and her co-workers had become close. Her managers let her put out a donation jar for Jordan and his family, and the community responded with overwhelming support.
“I was expecting pocket change, but people were putting in $10’s and $20’s,” Boutot said.
Now that Jordan is recovering and able to get out and about a little better, Boutot and the Center Street McDonald’s decided to throw him a Minion-themed party, with their very own Minion Dave. Boutot said that while Jordan was in the hospital, Minion Dave came to visit him and he absolutely lit up. “He was the first one to be able to get Jordan to eat again.”
At the party Tuesday, Jordan’s parents gave him the new bike, presented by Minion Dave, because his old one was destroyed in the crash.
Jordan was hesitant to accept the gift because he hadn’t been back on a bicycle since the crash, but his father was hopeful the boy would get back to riding before snow falls. “He had a hard time at first even getting back into the car, but he’s used to that again, so he’ll slowly get used to (the bike) again.”
Jordan’s father was appreciative and thankful for all the community has done for his family. He said the community, their thoughts and prayers, have put a little good light on a bad situation. “It brought tears to my eyes,” he said. “When a community comes together for someone else, it’s really something.”
Jordan was thankful that he got to end his party with an ice cream sundae — with extra hot fudge.
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