But now Sammy is all grown up and the 8-year-old is on a mission to help save his father.
Justin Griner, 39, is in desperate need for a kidney transplant. With his family’s help, they created a crowd-funded account raising money for medical treatment.
In a post on the website, Justin’s wife Laney Robertson Griner wrote: “Justin is a 39 year old father of one in need of a kidney transplant”.
“Please help us reach our goal so that Justin may get the pre-treatments and transplant he desperately needs.”
“His mother died from this disease, please help us write a different story for Justin and his son, Sam.”
Justin’s crowdfund page.
Amazingly, the family reached their goal of $75,000 within six days!
“If you hadn’t taken a picture of your son and posted it to the internet so many years ago, no telling how well this would have gone. I’m so glad that God works in mysterious ways. I pray that everything will go well for your family,” well-wisher, Marilyn Wishert said on the crowdfund page.
Overwhelmed by Justin’s story, many well-wishers even offered to get tested to see if they could donate their kidney to him.
Justin and Laney were hesitant to mention their son’s meme while trying raise the funds but ultimately, they decided it would provide more attention. And they were right.
Sammy with his dad after that famous photo.
“We are just floored by the reaction,” Laney told BuzzFeed News.
“I know Success Kid is a popular meme, but around here he’s just our 8-year-old son, Sam. It’s amazing seeing what broad, worldwide appeal his image has, even so many years later.”
The meme went viral back in 2010, despite Laney originally sharing the now-famous snap in 2007.
“He’s been this meme for as long as he can remember,” Laney added. “But he gets embarrassed by it plenty, too.”
“His dad is his hero, he’d happily do anything to help him get better.”
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