Hungarian magazine «Story» published a surprising article about Bela Farkas, the young man from Hungary, whose life Michael Jackson saved 20 years ago. The story was prompted by a happy occasion: Bela recently became a father.
The young man on the picture is Bela, the same little boy whom Michael and his then wife Lisa Marie met in a children’s hospital in Budapest in 1994 (Bela’s story was briefly told in one of the previous articles). He never gave an interview before — this was his first conversation with journalists in 20 years.
Bela was born with a serious anomaly: an undeveloped hepatic lobe, a life-threatening condition that required a liver transplant. Such surgeries were not performed in Hungary at the time and were very expensive abroad. Bela’s parents abandoned him at birth, so he had no hope to get the money.
When Michael visited the hospital, he asked doctors why the boy was so thin and yellow in the face and was explained Bela’s condition. Michael immediately said that he would pay for the surgery. It was a rare occasion when Jackson’s charitable act received publicity and media coverage.
Michael himself recounted Bela’s story in documentary «Michael Jackson: The Private Home Movies» eight years later:
What Michael didn’t mention in the film was that he not only found a donor for the boy and paid for the surgery, but also continued paying for Bela’s treatment for the next ten years. «I don’t even like to think about it,» says Bela. «The treatment cost $15 thousand a year. Michael spent over vulkan 24 50 million forints on me — just because he happened to meet me in the hospital.»
Shortly after his surgery Bela was adopted, so he grew up with loving parents eventually. This TV spot about Bela was made about a year after his surgery:
When Michael returned to Hungary in 1996 with his History our, he met with Bela again. The boy then said to him: «You are like my dad. Thanks to you, I was born for the second time.» Michael laughed and answered: «Then you are my son.»
They stayed in touch until Michael’s death. Michael sent Bela cards, birthday and Christmas gifts, and Bela answered with drawings and photos. When Michael passed away, Bela cried as if he had lost his dad.
Bela is 24 now, and in February 2014 he became a father of a healthy newborn girl. He says the doctors predicted he would not live past his 18th birthday, and here he is at 24 still doing well. He will always be very grateful to Michael. «If I could,» admits Bela, «I would ask him, ‘Of all children in that hospital, why did you choose me?'»
I am so glad to see that Farkas is still doing well. I would like your permission to report this story on my blog. Your page will not allow me to reblog it. Let me know. Thanks for your consideration. ♥
Of course you have permission to use this story on your blog. Thanks for comment )
Thank you so much.
<3
What a wonderful ending for Bela, thank you
Inspiring tear-jerker. God bless.
Bela Thanks for your testimony, I guess will preserve forever in your heart this wonderful person who gave you so much. I would love if you would share other details of your long friendship with Michael. A hug Marisa
This is the best! Great to see how «Farka» is doing, I’ve thought alot about this kid since MJ died.
That’s so cuuuuute ^^ <3
Michael us such a sweet heart and has such a great personality not many people you know would do something like tht — love you Michael
This made me cry! I had already known about Michael helping Bela but what i didn’t know was that he helped him for years. Michael is the most beautiful, most kind hearted person i’ve ever known or heard about. And i’m glad that i finally see that good & TRUTHFUL news where given out in the news. I’m so happy for Bela that he’s a father, and what he said to michael when he was a little boy; that to him Michael was like a father to him, that just made tears come down my face. I love Michael (i need to tweet this)
Bela is so thanksfull to Micheal, I’ve seen an interview wit him. He is leaving in extremly poverty, almost starving. I wish I could help him and to buy some furniture for example, because I know that they don’t have any. Do anybody know the conact to him?
In tears right now. So So SOOOOO happy for Bela. Michael was an angel… We only know about the lot that Micael helped and cared for but there are sooo many more people out there that Michael helped… These kind of stories warm my heart.
the answer to that is mj love kids an he wanted to help u
I am so happy to read this story and to hear Bela is now a father! Congratulations!! Bela, if you are reading these comments, Michael’s fans have a charity in his honor and name, meant to help children all over the world just as he did. Please check it out at http://www.michaelsdreamfoundation.org someday :o) We would LOVE to hear from you!! ♥
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PERSON. i LOVE MICHAEL SO MUCH. i WILL ALWAYS HAVE HIM IN MY HEART.
Hi. Here is some additional info on Béla since he was on TV in Hungary not long ago.
He has a wife and a little daughter now. He changed his name to Tamás Farkas. (Tamás/Béla is the first name, Farkas is the surename.)
The program is about people who are looking for their lost family members. He was looking for his biological parents with whom he hasn’t met since he was a little child. He was raised by adoptive parents after the operation. His biological parents (who broke up shortly after Tamás was given to adoption) both said they did so because they were too young and could not afford his medicine and could not have given him circumstances that would have supported his healing (eg. sterile room etc.). They felt it was for Béla’s sake that they gave him to adoption. He accepted the explanation and they made up at the end.
Here is the program:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5Zw4E3AskE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRCJDos16Iw
Would love to know if he named his child after Michael, since Michael helped him so much. Thank you.
He had a daughter… I don’t think he’d want to name her after Michael LOL. What matters is how he feels and that’s a very sweet story.
Michael you’re always in my heart.Love you very much
I loves you, Michael Jackson
Michael is such an angel and i’m so happy this kid is doing so well now!!!
I don’t like how he bragged about MJ spending 50 million dollars on him over a period of 10 years, from 1994-2004. He may be lying. MJ had his own family to take care of in between this time, and had trouble trying to make sells with his Invincible album, so Farkas may be lying. Notice he says this AFTER MJ passed. Sort of reminds me of Wade Robson. And if Farkas is telling the truth, MJ gave more money to charity. MJ gave 300 million dollars to charity, in which it wasn’t a between life and death situation as it was with Farkas. MJ spent $15, 000 a year, while he wrote a 1 million dollar check to certain charities in one day. So enough with the non-sense Farkas. Besides, Farkas is considered a charity work — a sick child in a hospital. MJ always did charity work for sick people, poor people, etc. So enough with the braging.Again, MJ gave 300 million to charity, money was nothing to MJ, he wss filthy rich, and at times was a spend thrift, ha. Thank you very much. Look st this site for more information: http://www.blackstarnews.com/others/extras/michael-jackson-gave-300-million-to-charities.html
He said Michael helped him over a period of 10 years, and spent 50 million hungarian forints on him, which equals to about 182,243 US Dollar. Remember this is over a period of 10 years, which makes sense. He does not seem to be bragging, he just wants to share the love that is Michael.
I don’t like how he bragged about MJ spending 50 million dollars on him over a period of 10 years, from 1994-2004. He may be lying. MJ had his own family to take care of in between this time, and had trouble trying to make sells with his Invincible album, so Farkas may be lying. Notice he says this AFTER MJ passed. Sort of reminds me of Wade Robson. And if Farkas is telling the truth, MJ gave more money to charity. MJ gave 300 million dollars to charity, in which it wasn’t a between life and death situation as it was with Farkas. MJ spent $15, 000 a year, while he wrote a 1 million dollar check to certain charities in one day. So enough with the non-sense Farkas. Besides, Farkas is considered a charity work – a sick child in a hospital. MJ always did charity work for sick people, poor people, etc. So enough with the braging. Again, MJ gave 300 million to charity, which is far more than 50 million. Money was nothing to MJ, he was filthy rich, and at times was a spend thrift, ha. Thank you very much. Look at this site for more information: http://www.blackstarnews.com/others/extras/michael-jackson-gave-300-million-to-charities.html
Hi! This story really touched my heart. I want to publish this story on our Twitter pages as a part of our project to help spread Michael’s humanitarian contributions. Do you have a Twitter account so that I can tag you and give you the credit? I’ll also give the link to you blog. I hope you agree to it! Lots of love!
You can tag us @MJacksonEN. Thanks Deboleena.
Michael had such a beautiful and loving heart. He wanted to do anything in his power to make sure no kid was left suffering. The world treated Michael so wrong and bad. I love you and miss you mike ❤️
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Have u ever thought about meeting MJ’s children. Im so glad everything worked out, i think things happen for a reason n u were chosen because thats the way it was suppose to be. The media never seems to do big articles on the great things that happen around us n if they do its very small.