Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson had contracted the coronavirus while they were in Australia for a shoot. Hanks took to social media to keep his audience updated about his and Rita’s health while undergoing treatment in Australia. The couple were discharged after completely recovering and they returned to the US.
However, after their return, an 8-year-old boy living in Australia named Corona De Vries wrote Tom Hanks a letter in which he inquired about his health and then went on to disclose that he has been getting bullied in school for his name ‘Corona’, reports The Indian Express.
“I heard on the news you and your wife had caught the coronavirus. Are you okay?” the boy asked in the letter first.
He then went on to claim that he is being bullied at school and that made him “sad and angry”.
Tom Hanks went on to write a heartfelt letter to the boy and also sent him a special gift, reports NBC.
“Your letter made my wife and I feel so wonderful! Thank you for being such a good friend – friends make friends feel good when they are down. You know, you are the only person I’ve ever known to have the name Corona – like the ring around the sun, a crown,” Hanks wrote in his letter.
He gifted him a Corona-brand typewriter which he had taken to Gold Coast.
“I thought this typewriter would suit you. I had taken it to the Gold Coast, and now, it is back – with you. Ask a grown-up about how it works. And use it to write back. P.S. You’ve got a friend in me!” wrote Hanks.
It is upsetting how innocent people are being targetted and harassed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Recently we have seen shameful incidents of racism happening in the country where people from the North-east have been harassed. This tends to take a severe emotional toll on the person subjected to such incidents.
We hope the world is kinder and more compassionate to everyone during this critical time. Maybe instead of hate, we can use love to get by the pandemic!