Angels make Gabe's birthday dream come true

Gabe Gunter’s’ dream 16th birthday came true recently, thanks to his aunt, a cake designer, and a Butler County deputy sheriff.

Gunter, who is autistic, has been obsessed with police officers since he was 2 years old, said his aunt, Paula Levering of Boulder, Colorado.

Levering wanted to make Gabe’s birthday special since his mother, Sherri of Doniphan, has been sick.

Gabe Gunter pretends he is chasing “bad guys” as part of his 16th birthday celebration. Photo provided

Determined to order him a special cake, Levering searched the internet and spent time on the telephone before calling Donut House Bakery & Deli in Poplar Bluff and talking with cake designer Abigail Davis.

Describing Davis as an “angel,” Levering added, “bless her heart, she did everything.”

Levering said not only did she get the police officer cake she wanted to have made and delivered, but it came with a “bundle of love. I was overwhelmed.”

Davis said, Gunter’s story tugged at her heart since members of her family are autistic. She decided if possible, Gunter was going to get a special delivery birthday cake.

Davis called the Butler County Sheriff’s Office and asked “is there anyone who could help make this kid’s dream come true.”

Taking “protect and serve” seriously, Cpl. Cody Wilson not only assisted with the delivery, but let Gunter pretend to be an officer. He let Gunter sit in the patrol car with the lights and sirens going.

Davis recalls, “It was the best, to see the wonderful boy’s dream come true.”

Gunter’s sister, Nikki Matthews of Doniphan, agreed saying, “It was the happiest he’s ever been; the look on his face. He didn’t know what to do.”

Matthews said, after Wilson and Davis delivered the cake and cookies, Gunter “was in shock” until the deputy offered to let him get in the patrol car. Gunter replied, ‘Yea. Yea lets go outside.’ The deputy also gave him stickers.

“Gunter pretended he was chasing a bad guy. He got to turn on the lights and sirens,” Matthews said. “It definitely is a 16th birthday to remember for life.”

Matthews and Levering were “super excited. I loved it just to see the smile on his face,” they both said.

Davis knows about dreams and striving for them.

She has an associate’s degree and is working on her bachelor’s degree in sociology at Central Methodist University through Three Rivers College. She dreams ultimately of working with the Missouri children’s division with foster children. The mother of four was a foster child growing up, so the system is familiar to her. She credits foster care, along with hard work, with helping to make her dreams come true. While Gunter is not in foster care, Davis wants to continue making dreams come true for others like Gunter as well.