We gathered seven moments from the Echo archives of people having the best days thanks to kind-hearted friends and relatives.
Some of them got extra special birthday gifts, in 1985 and 2014. Others had surprise visitors in 1972 and 2003, and one USA couple even got a Wearside wedding reception they were not expecting in 2008.
Intrigued? Read on.

9. Your turn
Surprise us by telling us about the moment when you had a special day you were not expecting. Email [email protected] | se
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