(Courtesy WIVB / CNN)
A case of mistaken identity turns into a heartwarming story of one woman’s gift to a young girl with autism.
It happened in Akron, New York after 5-year-old Layla Lester mistook a bride taking photos in her wedding dress for Cinderella.
Layla’s mom told WIVB in New York that Layla ran to the woman with arms wide open yelling, “Cinderella, Cinderella!”
That Cinderella turned out to be new bride Olivia Spark who was taking photos in the park on her wedding day.
The interaction between Layla and Olivia was captured by photographer Nicole Wickins and shared in a Facebook post.
Layla, who has autism, doesn’t often interact with strangers, but her mother says she loves princesses and that Spark was “so sweet” about the impromptu meet-and-greet.
“She was just so sweet with her and just kept talking to her and asking her questions,” Lester told WIVB. “Layla loved her and she fell in love so fast.”
After the wedding Spark took to social media to find Layla and share the photos of their time at the park. Eventually, the two reunited.
“She is the epitome of what a real-life princess would be,” Jessica Lester said about Spark. “She’s kind and she’s sweet and she went out of her way to be nice to Layla.”
A GoFundMe Campaign has since been set up by the community to help send Layla and her family to Disney World.
