Stranger Travels Across States to Return 9-Year-Old's Stuffed Animal and Documents Toy's Journey Home (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Josephine Ortega returns stuffed monkey to family.Photo:Yvette Ortega; Josephine Ortega

Yvette Ortega; Josephine Ortega

Josephine Ortega was traveling with her boyfriend in Nevada when she received a Facebook message from a sister at her church. The message explained that a mother in their community back in Texas was desperately searching for someone to retrieve a stuffed monkey her son had left at a hotel in Anaheim, Calif. — just an hour’s drive from where her boyfriend lived.

At the time, the couple was on a trip to Nevada with plans to visit Native American reservations and enjoy seafood. However, after Josephine, who is a mother of two young girls, saw the message, she immediately decided to help.

“His mom told me how the hotel hadn’t been willing to send it back,” Josephine, 22, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “She had tried to arrange for it to be shipped, but they said someone had to pick it up in person.”

“I thought, well, God works in mysterious ways,” she adds. “I was like, ‘Let’s do this for this kid.’ I couldn’t ignore the fact that if my kids were in that situation, I’d want someone to do the same for me.”

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Josephine Ortega shares picture of monkey on plane.Josephine Ortega

Josephine Ortega

That day, Josephine and her boyfriend left Nevada and headed back to California. When they arrived at the hotel, Josephine went to the desk and informed the staff that she was there to retrieve the stuffed monkey. The hotel staff contacted the mother, Yvette Ortega, who gave permission for them to take the stuffed animal. After securing the monkey, Josephine texted Yvette, “We got the monkey! We got the monkey!”

At that moment, Josephine thought about how the 9-year-old boy named Derek had been crying for his monkey. So, before heading home, she decided to send a picture of the stuffed animal to Yvette to share with Derek.

After sending the first photo, Josephine had an idea to document the stuffed monkey’s journey back to Derek, hoping to lift his spirits.

Some of the photos she took throughout the monkey’s journey back to Texas included him on the car ride to the airport, drinking Dr. Pepper, and watchingMinionsmovies on the plane, which she didn’t realize were some of his favorite things.

“I didn’t know that Derek lovedMinionsor that he was a fan of Dr. Pepper,” Josephine says. “The mom mentioned his favorite movie wasMinions.As for Dr. Pepper, I’m not a fan, but on that day, I suddenly craved it. So I decided to get a Dr. Pepper for myself and included it in the picture with the monkey, making the journey a bit more fun and exciting.”

“But I have to admit,” Josephine adds with a laugh, “I almost lost the monkey three more times throughout the trip. It kept falling, and I was constantly searching for it, saying, ‘No! Where are you?'”

After landing in Texas, Josephine texted Yvette to coordinate a meeting. When she arrived at the meeting spot, Josephine recalls Yvette telling her son to get out of the car and that’s when Josephine approached Derek and said, “I heard you’re missing a little somebody.”

Right away, Josephine recalls Derek coming up to hug her and the monkey tightly.

“In that moment when I was giving back the monkey, what went through my mind was seeing him smile again,” Josephine says. “Even though it’s just a material thing, it meant a lot to him. His happiness overwhelmed me. I was grateful to see that smile and think about how my kids would feel if they had lost something very important to them. I would want someone to do the same for my children.”

After handing over the stuffed animal, Yvette gave Josephine a gift, which she appreciated but felt was unnecessary. “I told her, ‘You don’t have to do this. I’m not doing it for anything. I’m doing it for your child,'” Josephine adds.

Josephine Ortega handing Derek monkey.Yvette Ortega

Yvette Ortega

Leading up to the exchange, Josephine had kept the monkey’s return a secret from Derek, hoping to surprise him. After getting the monkey back, Yvette compiled all the pictures Josephine had sent and posted them on Facebook and TikTok for Derek to see.

Josephine Ortega feeding the monkey Dr. Pepper.Josephine Ortega

Josephine is now planning a playdate between her daughters and Derek. She also invited Yvette to her church, hoping they can build a connection. “I told her, ‘You’re more than welcome to come to my church. I would love for you to participate and get to know us better. But if it’s not for you, I understand.'”

source: people.com