Many immigrants have incredible stories of hard work, often times involving a parent moving to a place with more opportunities to give their kids a better life.

Certainly true for a woman who left Ethiopia for Lebanon, where she worked as a maid for 30 years. Back home, her son long wished to become a pilot, further inspiring her to work hard and support his dream. As a powerful tribute, the devoted mom got a special surprise on her grand return home. As she boarded the plane, a flight attendant pushed back a curtain to reveal her son was actually the plane pilot.

The touching moment is caught on camera. In the clip, which has since gone viral, the mom boards the plane as a regular passenger, unaware of the surprise to come. Once the team confirms it’s her, the big reveal is set in motion. The pilot greets his unsuspecting mom with a big flower bouquet under his arm, as well as a cake and a bottle of champagne.

The gifts are nothing compared to seeing her son, and the mom breaks down in tears of joy. They then embrace and kiss each other's faces repeatedly—almost to make sure it's not a dream. Amid all the commotion, the mom also makes sure to thank those who helped with the surprise, bowing her head in gratitude to each of them.

The sweet video is a testament to the undeniable love between a mother and her son, as well as the pride that they feel for one another. Being away and working hard to provide for your kids is a highly commendable endeavor —it's scenes such that this reminds many of why it is done in the first place.

This article is by REGINA SIENRA. Regina Sienra is a Staff Writer at My Modern—Met. Based in Mexico City, Mexico, she holds a bachelor’s degree in communications with a specialization in Journalism from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She has 10+ years of experience in Digital Media, writing for outlets in both English and Spanish. Her love for the creative arts—especially music and film—drives her forward every day.