An 89-year-old grandfather’s sweet show of love for his grandkids has melted hearts the world over, after his granddaughter shared a video of the touching tradition on social media.
Haley Gamez, 30, who is an elementary school teacher from Texas, earned her grandfather viral fame after posting a short clip of him running alongside her car and waving goodbye as she left his home, while revealing that he has been performing this heart-rending ritual every since she was a little girl.
‘My 89 year old grandpa running to say goodbye. He does this every time,’ she wrote alongside the video, which showed her grandfather – who she calls Guywa – jogging next to her car while smiling and waving at her through the car window.
Heartwarming: An 89-year-old grandpa has gone viral after his granddaughter shared a video of him running alongside her car to say goodbye, revealing he does it every time she leaves
Fond farewell: Haley Gamez, 30, from Texas, revealed in her clip that her grandfather, who she calls Guywa, started the tradition when she was a little girl, and still does it to this day
The clip struck an emotional chord after Haley shared it on TikTok, where it racked up more than 6.7 million views – as well as hundreds of comments from her fellow users who were touched by the heartwarming tradition.
‘Okay well he’s the cutest grandpa ever,’ one person wrote, while another said: ‘This man is so pure. He needs to live forever.’
Others admitted that the clip made them miss their own grandparents – particularly those whose loved ones have passed away, and those who have been separated from their families amid the pandemic.
‘You’re luck you still have grandpa with you,’ wrote one commenter.
‘I miss my grandpa so much,’ said another.
A third chimed in: ‘You’re making me cry, I miss my grandpa so much, he passed away.’
After the incredible outpouring of love and support from her TikTok followers, Haley shared other videos of her Guywa performing the sweet ritual – including one clip that saw him running alongside her car in the dark, with the help of his son.
Rain or shine! Elementary school teacher Haley shared other clips of her grandfather performing the sweet ritual at different times throughout the year
Night and day: One video showed Guywa running down the street in the dark – with the assistance of his son
See you soon! The videos struck an emotional chord on TikTok, where dozens of users commented to share kind words with Haley and her Guywa
‘My dad helped Guywa in the dark,’ she wrote, while sharing the video of him jogging alongside his son, before happily waving at Haley.
The teacher, who is has a 10-year-old son, and is expecting a second baby boy, thanked the millions of viewers who have shared such kind words about her grandfather, while revealing in another video how the tradition first began.
‘My Guywa has been doing this tradition for as long as I can remember,’ she said.
‘He used to go down the whole block and chase us all the way down to the end of the street, but obviously he can’t anymore.
‘He did this for my sister, he did it for me, he does it for my 10-year-old son, and hopefully, Lord willing, for my soon-to-be son Denver.’
Haley also offered kind words to those who have lost their grandparents, telling them: ‘For all those who have lost grandparents recently, or not so recently, I feel for y’all.
Family first: Haley, pictured with her grandfather and grandmother, said that her Guywa has been doing the sweet goodbye since she was a little girl
Tradition: ‘My Guywa has been doing this tradition for as long as I can remember,’ she said
‘I can’t imagine how that might feel.’
However, she added that she is ‘totally willing’ to share her grandfather with the masses, noting that he ‘has enough love to go around’.
‘His love is overflowing,’ she concluded.
As for her grandfather’s unique nickname, she explained that Guywa is a moniker that her older sister came up with as a little girl.
‘We call him Guywa. My sister is the first grandchild and she named him,’ Haley told her granddad’s new fan club, while revealing that he is happily married to her grandmother, and has been for many years.
Plenty of TikTok users urged Haley to begin filming videos with her Guywa, begging her to share more wholesome clips of their family life.
‘I think you need to start doing TikTok videos with your grandpa, it will be very fun for him and [will] give love to everyone on TikTok,’ one wrote.