The Hungarian son of Michael Jackson still has the teddy bear the star gave him – video

Michael Jackson met him in the Bethesda Children’s Hospital in 1994 and paid not only for his life-saving surgery but also the whole recovery process after that. According to Bors, Tamás Farkas (previously Béla, 28) is now working for a meat processing company, and he would like to buy a flat for his family someday.

They stayed in touch until the star’s death

Hungary learnt Béla Farkas’s name 24 years ago when the American pop icon saved him from a severe liver disease by paying his liver transplant operation in Brussels worth 30 million HUF (EUR 92,500). Jacko wanted to help at any costs, so he did not only pay for the surgery but also for the whole recovery process of the little boy. Altogether,

he paid almost 50 million HUF (EUR 154,000).

Thus, though without help doctors gave only months for the little boy, Béla was given a chance to start a new and full life. However, even though he became world-famous, his biological parents abandoned him because they were not able to look after him after the surgery. Thus, shortly after the operation, Béla was adopted and, his adoptive parents changed his name to Tamás.

Tamás (Béla) Farkas on video with Michael Jackson in 1994:

In fact, he said to Bors that he still has the teddy bear he received from Jackson then. Furthermore, when Jackson came again to Budapest in 1996 he booked a room in his hotel for him and, he allowed him to sit in his limousine. Moreover, they could watch his concert in a VIP box together with his adoptive parents. Anything he wanted – toys, sweets – was paid by Jackson who was always very friendly with him.

Tamás and Jackson stayed in touch until Michael’s death in 2009. Michael sent Tamás cards, birthday and, Christmas gifts, and Tamás answered with drawings and photos. Michael Jackson said later about his immediate help that “saving his life was definitely