On October 13, 2016, when Nadine Baum walked into her local McDonald’s for her routine, weekly lunch with her son, she was surprised by flowers, balloons, cake, and song for her 100th birthday.
Crew members at McDonald’s and some of Nadine’s own friends gathered around Baum’s usual table to celebrate her birthday with her.
Baum was overwhelmed. She stood for a moment, jaw dropped, unable to speak.
McDonald’s employee Ginny Slaubaugh was quick to usher Baum in and seat her at her usual spot.
Over the past five or six years of Baum frequenting the storefront with her son, Slaubaugh has become friends with the Baum family and has even taken to calling Baum “mom,” herself.
It was Slaubaugh’s idea to host Baum a birthday party. Baum’s arthritis had been keeping her from going to McDonald’s as often, so Slaubaugh and store general manager, Sean Patterson, wanted to show Baum their love.
The McDonald’s team also gifted Baum with something even more special: a certificate for a lifetime of free McDonald’s.
"Now we can see you every day!" Slaubaugh joked with Baum.
At her party, Baum continued to have her usual whipped cream-topped mocha frappe and Big Mac for lunch, before tucking into cake. The McDonald's employees teased her for being so "well-behaved" and not ruining her appetite by having her dessert before her meal.
As for Baum, she's still having trouble wrapping her mind around the fact that her friends threw her such a sweet surprise birthday party.
“I just can’t get over this,” Baum admitted. “This is so wonderful. I don’t know what I did to deserve all this. I count my blessings every day.”
