HOW WE GOT THE STORY

An avid AJC reader and a fan of Personal Journeys, Vicki Van Der Hoek emailed us in June 2014 after we ran the story “Mondays with Mr. Collins,” about a troubled African-American child who was helped by his friendship with a retired white man. (Read that story on myAJC.com/ personaljourneys). Vicki thought we might be interested in telling her story about how a young black boy helped her through a troubled time. She was correct.

Features writer Helena Oliviero spent several hours with Vicki and Leon at Vicki’s house, at the Fulton County airport where Leon takes aviation classes and at the Renaissance Hotel, their favorite spot to dine and watch planes take off and land.

Helena also spoke to Leon’s parents.

“Vicki talks about how much Leon has meant to her, ”says Leon’s mother, Tonia Shields, “but we thank God for her. My husband and I say we wish we had someone like that in our lives when we were young.”

This is an inspiring story about a remarkable friendship — and how being open to the people around us can enrich our lives.