It takes a lot to keep some people from missing a day of work. Pride in their job, themselves help them stay on track, never taking time off. There are times when little is done to show appreciation for that hard work. Fast-food work can be hard work — long hours, demanding customers. But in a now-viral video, one employee at a Burger King in Las Vegas, made hard work and perfect attendance seem easy.

Over the summer a TikTok video posted of 54-year-old Kevin Ford showed the man receiving a few small tokens as a gift. The reason — Ford had been employed for 27 years without ever missing a single day of work. The video exploded on the internet. In it, Ford was given a movie ticket, a Starbucks cup, and candy in a plastic bag, after having made a joke to his manager about his work streak. After the gifts, Ford gave some of the candy to his coworkers. But he never thought anyone would see his video.

However, it became the news of the day – with tens of thousands viewing it. Comments expressed shock at how little Ford was given for such a momentous amount of time spent working for others.

Ford took it in stride. “I was honored, it was nice and I loved it. One lady’s been there for 35 years, they didn’t get anything that I know of so I was happy.” For the holiday season, the Today Show invited Ford back on and he told viewers that he had kept up his working streak and had yet to miss a day. He also shared that he had spent time making sure to let others share in the good luck he has found since the first video went viral.

@savingmamasita

#fyp #burgerking #goodiebag #viral #trending in a country where nobody wants to work anymore, Kevin Ford has worked at Burger King for 27 years and has never missed a day of work. In this video, he shows the goodie bag that he received for her accomplishment and dedication to the company. I’m speechless.

♬ original sound – Amber Mamasita

“I feel like the whole world lifted me up,” Ford said, noting it all started when one of his daughters created a GoFundMe to try to raise money so he could visit his grandchildren. Her original goal was $200 — the total they received, $389,000. And it is still growing.

It’s still mind-blowing and still like a dream every day, (one) that I hope I never wake up from,” he continued.

But it didn’t end there. During his visit on the show, another dream came true — Ford was able to see his grandchildren after years apart. “When I finally got to hold them and see them, it was like everything to me,” he said, holding back tears.

Kevin Ford went viral after a TikTok showed his the few items given to him from his manager after having went 27 years without ever missing a single day of work. Photo from TikTok.

Ford then went on to use some of the funds raised to help feed hungry people who visit his Burger King. “When I’m in a store now and there’s people, especially single mothers or something, I tell them to ring up everybody,” he said. “I pay for everybody’s food.” Ford also was able to take a vacation of a lifetime — a trip to Mount Everest. “To be in the presence of such a great mountain, the highest peak, is beyond beautiful, is beyond amazing,” he said.

“It’s something that changes you and makes you, I feel, a better person.” He added, “Every day that I wake up, I’m excited … about spreading the love and showing people that that human spirit is still alive and well, and that I’m proof of it.”