Man Spends Last Days Fighting for Boy He'd Never Met & Gets His Final Wish Weeks After His Death
October 16, 2019

Sid Bell never met Chase Howard, a 13-year-old child with muscular dystrophy. But that didn't stop Sid from spending his final days fighting to change Chase's life. And this inspirational story shows how much power a selfless act of kindness holds!
78-year-old Sid Bell was facing his own health battle when he came across Shellie McClain's desperate plea on social media. But Sid was what you'd call a Good Samaritan. When he saw someone in need, he helped.
RELATED: Elderly Man Dies, Leaving 14 Years Worth Of Christmas Gifts For 2-Year-Old Neighbor
In fact, Sid Bell's church had a saying -- "Sid did it." And they say it's because Sid was always getting things done.
So, when Sid found out a child with muscular dystrophy needed help getting out of foster care, he spent his final days doing all he could to reunite him with his family. And God made sure all of Sid's efforts weren't in vain!
Good Samaritan's Dying Wish
Life hasn't been easy for 13-year-old Chase Howard. He is a child with a rare and fatal type of muscular dystrophy. His mother is battling an addiction, which ended up landing Chase in foster care two years ago.
Since then, his loving aunt, Shellie McClain, has been fighting to gain custody of Chase.
"This is my baby, this is my boy. I love him," she says.
But caring for a child with muscular dystrophy isn't easy. And until Shellie could meet the state's requirements, her nephew would remain in foster care.
In order to gain custody of Chase, Shellie needed a handicap accessible apartment and transportation for the boy and his wheelchair. She turned to social media to ask for help.
And that's how her friend's father, Sid Bell, learned of Chase's story.
Once Sid decided to help, nothing would stop him. Though his life was drawing to a close, he was determined to get Chase and his aunt that van.
"I was shocked, and I was humbled that Sid, his last days, were focused on a child he had never met. He had never met Chase," Shellie said.
Sid's Work Continues
Sid succeeded in raising $2,000 for the van just through his men's group. His daughter says that even when Sid was in the Intensive Care Unit, all he could talk about was this child with muscular dystrophy whom he'd never met.
"Anytime he saw a picture I posted, Sid would say, that's my guy. Anybody who would listen to him at his church, he would say, we gotta get Chase a van. We have to get him a van," Shellie said.
RELATED: He Needed 10 Volunteers To Help Senior Citizens, 100 Showed Up
Sadly, Sid Bell passed away before he could see the fruit of his hard work. But even in death, he was still crusading for Chase.
The last line of Sid's obituary was dedicated to Chase Howard. In lieu of flowers, Sid asked his mourners to make a donation toward Chase's van.
Shellie attended Sid's funeral, where it touched her to hear how much Chase meant to Side, even though he and the Good Samaritan had never met.
"I did attend Sid's funeral, and the pastor spoke about Chase," Shellie recalled.
Dying Wish To Help Child With Muscular Dystrophy Fulfilled
A couple of weeks after Sid Bell's death, a former coworker came across his obituary.
This coworker had recently lost his wife, Paige. He'd been holding on to her wheelchair accessible van waiting to find someone else who could use it. And the last line of Sid's obituary made it clear this van was meant for Chase Howard!
The man donated the van to Chase's aunt, Shellie McClain, and Sid's church, Chapel Wood Church, covered the cost of the taxes and registration.
The van has been a true blessing. But Sid's dedication to helping a child with muscular dystrophy he didn't know is what really struck a chord with Shellie.
"It means that somebody else sees Chase's worth without even knowing him. Can tell in the joy in his pictures that he's worth it," she said.
WATCH: Dying Man's Last Wish To Help Child With Muscular Dystrophy
The gift puts Shellie one step closer than getting full custody of Chase. She's focused on getting a handicap accessible apartment as the final step.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Boy Mocked For Wearing Same Clothes Every Day Until 2 Football Players Step In
Only God knows how many days the young man has on this earth. But having the van makes it easier for Shellie and Chase to enjoy those days.
And it's all because of a selfless act of kindness from a complete stranger. Sid did it!
h/t: WTHR News
Featured Image: Facebook/Shellie McClain
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Understand That Love Is Unyielding - Your Daily Prayer - April 30
The abyss does not exist in Jesus's presence. His love is jealous of us, and He won’t give up on his children. He holds us firmly—unyielding!
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Understand That Love Is Unyielding - Your Daily Prayer - April 30
The abyss does not exist in Jesus's presence. His love is jealous of us, and He won’t give up on his children. He holds us firmly—unyielding!
Past Stories
- Woman Finds Her Father After Almost 28 Years — And Learns the Truth About Why He Left
- Woman Saves Her Late Son’s Best Friend’s Mom With a Life-Changing Donation
- An Indie Bookstore Asked for Help, What Happened Next Will Warm Your Heart
- From Teen Sweethearts to 80 Years of Marriage: ‘God Was So Good to Give Him to Me’
- WWII Veteran Celebrates His 101st Birthday and 75 Years of Marriage to His Loving Wife
- 88-Year-Old Korean War Veteran and Great-Grandfather Graduates From College
- One Year After Losing Boys in a Fire, Parents Find Light in the Form of a Beautiful Blessing
- They Dress Up As Disney Princesses to Bring Joy and Hope to Sick Children, and it's Amazing
- This Couple Parents Triplets and Foster Sons from Wheelchairs, and It’ll Leave You Inspired
- Two-Year-Old is Found By Rancher's Dog After Walking 7 Miles From Home
- Couple Reunites 15-Year-Old Blind Dog With Owners After Finding Her in the Wilderness
- He Saved Her Life in a Pool Accident Five Years Ago, Now They Are Engaged
- Actress Chrissy Metz Left Hollywood For Nashville and She Couldn't Be Happier
- Stranger Helps 81-Year-Old Waitress Who Couldn't Afford to Retire, Now Her Prayers Have Been Answered
- 49-Year-Old Melanie Barratt Becomes First Blind Woman to Swim the English Channel
- 9-Year-Old Boy Remembered By Teacher and Community After Being Swept Away By Flood Waters
- 16-Year-Old Heard a Family's Cries and Saved Them From a House Fire
- Family Grows From 4 to 8 Overnight After Welcoming Identical Quadruplet Daughters
- Little Girl With Autism Reminds Others of Snow White and Her Connection to Animals
- Candace Cameron Bure Shares Fantastic News That Former Co-star, Dave Coulier, is Cancer-Free
- Soldier is Reunited With the Dog She Served With While Deployed
- Her Grandfather Kept a Log of Every Memory He Had With Her Grandmother, and It's Precious
- This 30-Year-Old Feline Might Just Be the World's Oldest Cat
- Special Messages About Love From Kindergarten Class Displayed at Teacher's Wedding
- A Sneaky Brown Tree Snake Slithers Into An Oven in Australia, and Luckily Doesn't Get Cooked
- Florida Man Meets the Son Who Had Been Searching For Him For Almost 40 Years
- Four-Year-Old Sends Out a Message in a Bottle, Receives Reply Less Than Two Weeks Later
- Delivery Driver Saves Woman's Life After Double Checking When Something Didn't Seem Right
- Woman in Heels Stops Robbery at Convenience Store With Her Impressive Martial Arts Skills
- Man That Survived More Than 90 Days at Sea Thought About His Mother Every Single Day
- Quick Thinking 9-Year-Old Saves Choking Friend During Snack Time Emergency
- Video Store Owner Creates 'Christina's Corner' For a Long-Time Customer
- Texas Man Gets Married in the Hospital After Kidney Transplant
- A Bride to Be and Her Best Friend Have Plane to Themselves and Enjoy Every Minute of it
- Dogs Come to School to Help Comfort Young Students Affected by the Eaton Fire
- Toddler Braves the Dark to Save His Great-Grandma
- All Four of These Best Friends Now Live On the Same Street and It's Amazing
- Woman Finds the Most Precious Message Inside Her Thrift Store Purchase
- Mom is Hit By a Piece of Power Tool On Her Way to Walt Disney World
- Veteran Who Loved Burger King Honored With His Own Chair
- Toddler Using Old Phone Calls 911 For Donuts and Gets a Sweet Surprise
- Hospital Hosts Special Father-Daughter Dance for Young Girl Who Missed the One at Her School
- Carl Thomas Dean, Dolly Parton's Husband of Almost 60 Years, Passes Away at 82
- Woman Donates Her Kidney to Help Save Prom Date From 35 Years Ago
- Couple Thank and Befriend Man Who Saved Their House From a Wildfire
- After 84 Years of Marriage, This Couple Just Broke a Record, and Share Some Great Advice
- Woman Gives Birth On Plane With the Help of a Flight Attendant
- Married For 68 Years, This Husband Does This Simple Sweet Thing For His Wife Every Night
Top Music Videos

Colton Dixon 'The Other Side' - Colton Dixon Song For Lost Loved Ones

Crowder Crowder's Powerful 'Somebody Prayed' Lyric Video

Jeremy Camp Jeremy Camp Drops Lyric Video for Powerful 'No Survivors'

GodTube Music Paige King Johnson’s Acoustic ‘Why God Made Small Towns’ is a Must-Listen

Oak Ridge Boys 'Because He Lives' Classic Performance From The Oak Ridge Boys
Blog
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.