Woman surprises grandmother with a house — all because of a promise she made as a child

Janita Badon promised her grandmother that she will buy her a house when she was only 8 years old. Badon's father and grandfather died within two weeks of each other in the fall of her freshman year at the University of Utah. The family went through some of the rough times, per Oregon Live. Badon was already lonely and dissatisfied in college, and she contacted her grandmother, Irma, concerned that so much in her life was falling apart and asking whether she should return home. Badon said, "She was married to my grandfather for 50 years. I would guess she was hurting more than I was."

Her grandmother helped Badon through this time, by telling her that "God doesn't make mistakes." She says that her grandmother's faithfulness and support have got her and the family through difficult situations. Irma and her husband, Alton Badon's temporary house on Northeast Morgan Street was where all the grandchildren collected after school. Bodon says, "Every single day. We were packed like sardines. And she never asked our parents what time they were coming back.” 

Badon remembered a promise she made to her grandmother as a youngster every time she visited her at that apartment. Irma spoke to Oregan Live, "She’s been promising me a house since she was 8 years old." Janita, who works in child protective services now, was determined late last summer that she needed to keep her childhood promise. She contacted Anthony Levrets, the vice president of strategic development at Directors Mortgage, and her former football coach who reached out to a realtor named Jackie Haddon.

Haddon says, "When Janita wanted to buy a house, he (Anthony Levrets) told me, ‘Aside from my wife and daughter, this is the most important woman in my life. I want her grandmother to be safe and I want you to work with her.” Badon and Haddon spent six weeks looking for a single-level home in a community that could accept Irma and the family gatherings. They discovered the home in Glenfair, which is just west of Gresham. Badon said on finding the perfect house, "It just felt like her. The bedroom? The two doors open at the same time. It has a walk-in closet. It felt like it was fit for a queen.” 

Badon contacted everyone in the family on Christmas morning and urged them to meet her at the Northeast Portland location because she had a significant announcement to make. Irma arrived on the driveway on her walker, she was greeted by a red bow over the front door and all of her family for the surprise. This moment was caught on video, reports Good Morning America. Badon proudly talks about her grandmother, "She is so selfless that when she was pushed into a dark room, the one thing she asked God was, ‘Spare my life so I can take care of my kids.’ She not only said it, but she meant it." She added, "I just thank God I was able to make good on my promise. She deserves to be comfortable. As I told her, she never once lied to me or made me a promise that hasn’t come true. I wanted to give her the same thing."