Woman was heartbroken when the shoes her mom wanted to be cremated in were discontinued — then a surprise delivery made it happen
Families often honor those they have lost by holding on to the pieces that made them who they were. TikTok user Megan Tobias' (@megantobiass) mother, Sandy Tobias, passed away in 2022 at 60 after battling an aggressive form of non-smoker's lung cancer. Before her untimely death, she had a special attachment to her Nike Air Max 97s, which she wore almost everywhere. She loved them so much that she even asked to be cremated wearing them. As she looked to place another order to bring along to spread her ashes, she was heartbroken to learn that the exact sneakers were not available. However, her TikTok video posted on January 9, 2026, helped make her wish come true, per PEOPLE.
@megantobiass I don’t usually make these kinds of videos but please if you could tag @Nike ♬ I Thought I Saw Your Face Today - She & Him
Sandy had requested a custom blue pair of Air Max 97s to match her car for Mother’s Day. In the months leading up to her passing, she was obsessed with her shoes. "She loved these sneakers so much, she called them her 'drip,'" Megan revealed. Her dad, brothers, and she wanted to recreate that exact sneaker so they could wear it in Alaska when they spread her ashes. It was the last place Sandy had wanted to visit before she passed. Megan decided to order the same customized pair but was heartbroken to learn that the customization options available a few years ago were no longer offered. She requested TikTok users to help the video reach Nike's attention, and luckily, the brand did not take long to fulfill her wish.
According to the outlet, Nike reached out to her and informed her that they were creating "something special" for her and her family for their Alaska trip. Expressing her gratitude to the brand, she said, "They wanted to help my family regain this piece of my mom and said they were going to recreate her sneakers for us so that we can have them on our trip to say goodbye." Megan, who recalled her mother as the most selfless person, revealed that the attendees at her mother's funeral had nothing but touching stories to share about her.
Soon after Megan's video went viral, many users took to the comments to share their reactions and personal stories of grief. @TipiRenz mentioned, "I already saw Nike is making them for you, so if you're not yet married but plan on getting married sometime, they can be your something blue! She will be with you then, too!" @emmy noted, "Ok, but your mama looked tough in those, praying this is seen by the right people." @Leanna remarked, "Girl, I see they already commented, but I just wanted to say how sorry I am for your loss and just wish I could hug you while you talk about her. I hope you have the most amazing trip. Sending love."
For more videos, follow @megantobiass on TikTok.