Texas Burger King employee helps save diabetic in drive-through

Burger King worker Tina Hardy became a hero Wednesday after helping a woman having a diabetic episode get some much needed sugar. Burger King worker Tina Hardy became a hero Wednesday after helping a woman having a diabetic episode get some much needed sugar. Photo: Facebook/Rebecca Boening Photo: Facebook/Rebecca Boening Image 1 of / 21 Caption Close Texas Burger King employee helps save diabetic in drive-through 1 / 21 Back to Gallery

An Amarillo Burger King employee became an unlikely hero Wednesday after helping a diabetic having an episode get some food.

Rebecca Boening, 61, was driving on I-40 when her heart started racing and she started shaking, Boening told Chron.com Monday morning.

She pulled off at the nearest exit and pulled up to the Burger King drive-through window around 5 p.m. Tina Hardy, 32, was working the window.

"Her voice was shaky and she was slurring a little. She told me that she's diabetic," Hardy told Chron.com. "After I told her the total, I made her ice cream and ran it out to her knowing she was in desperate need of the sugar."

VERY TOUCHING: Astros fan pays tribute to his late mother on brick outside Minute Maid Park in viral photo

Hardy asked Boening to park near the drive-thru window so she could keep an eye on her until she felt better. Since Hardy's husband is diabetic, she knew what was going on with Boening immediately, she said.

"When she felt better and the other customers were gone she pulled back into my window and thanked me and asked for my manager. After she spoke with my manager I went back to the window and gave her permission to take my picture. It was a pleasure helping her. I did not expect such a huge response to the story," Hardy said.

Boening, a former police officer, has suffered from diabetes since Oct. 2005. She also suffers from reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) which causes so much pain it's been nicknamed the "suicide disease," the Queensland Times reported.

Boening posted Hardy's photo on Facebook Friday morning, where it has gone viral. The photo has been shared more than 142,000 times and collected more than 29,000 comments.

TAKING A STAND: Father's Facebook post about sick son getting bullied goes viral

"I'm amazed," Boening said. "I'm truly amazed. It show you how special what Tina Hardy did is."

Hardy has been working at Burger King for six months. This is the first time she's ever faced a customer in distress.

"I was shocked to walk into work and find out that I'm famous and have gone viral," Hardy said. "I did not expect such a huge response to the story. Thanks to everyone for the recognition."

A request for comment has been placed with Burger King.

Fernando Alfonso III is a digital reporter at Chron.com. You can read more of his stories here and follow him on twitter at @fernalfonso. If you also like surreal GIFs and Polaroids, go here and here.

