A Lakeland boy got some much-needed help from his big brother and students at a local college on Saturday.
Samuel Bennett is the big brother to 12-year-old Nicholas Toner in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
"He calls me Mr. Samuel and he have me a big hug and he said, 'I've been waiting for you my whole life,'" Bennett said.
Nicholas Toner suffers from osteogenesis imperfect, also known as OI. It's a brittle bone disease. He recently fell and broke some bones while he was in his backyard.
"It makes my bones fragile, so just tripping or falling backward, I could break my back or my leg," Nicholas Toner said.
Samuel Bennett, who is also a professor at Southeastern University, got some of his students to volunteer to help repair the backyard and make some improvements to the home.
"I was telling my class about Nick's situation, and one of my students said, 'Hey, Dr. Bennett, why don't we do a work day at their house and do a cleanup?'" Bennett said. "And I said let me check with the mom and see."
Nicholas Toner's mom, Teresa Cameron, said the help came at just the right time.
"It happened so fast," Cameron said. "I'm very surprised but very excited and appreciative that everybody has come out to help us. We really need help. (We're) not good about asking for help, but Mr. Bennett stepped in and got some crew together."
Nicholas Toner said he couldn't be more thankful.
"He's helped me a lot — making the ramp and being there when I need him," he said. "Especially when I broke my leg the other two times and helping us now. Thanks to him, we're going to get some help with the house."
More than a dozen volunteers showed up Saturday to help with repairs to the home.