Girls who lost their dad dreaded the school father-daughter dance — until a former teacher showed up
Losing a parent can be a very difficult thing for a young child. It can be especially challenging during special occasions and events where parents are needed. Two little girls lost their dad to a cardiac arrest a few weeks before their father-daughter dance. The elementary school students were dreading the day when their former teacher stepped in to take them to the dance along with his two daughters. The man had planned a series of special surprises for the girls to make their day special, per PEOPLE.
The two girls, Alivia and Avery Reece, lost their dad, Luke Reece, back in 2018, when the sisters were 8 and 7 years old. Their father-daughter dance was coming up when their dad suffered a cardiac arrest at 32 years old. "Luke was their world. He did everything with the kids, from coaching their soccer practices to helping them with ballet," their teacher, Steve Culbert, shared. "You name it and he was with the kids." The dad had taken his daughters to the dance every year, so Culbert talked to his wife and decided to take the girls, along with his daughters, Aliyah, 6 and Hailey, 8. "I asked my daughters and they said they knew exactly what was going on and they wanted to be part of it."
The teacher knew the pain of losing a loved one at a young age, as his 14-year-old brother died when he was only 11 years old. "I've been down that road with my brother, you know, watching him die of cancer. I know what that felt like and I know when my own students hurt, I hurt." He added, "I don’t want any of them to feel like they’re alone in that. It just touches a certain spot in my heart." The man planned a day out for the sisters a day before the dance and raised donations for the same without telling them. He picked the girls in the morning and took them out for breakfast with his family and then drove them to the local park. He also took all of the girls to get their hair and nails done before the big event.
Culbert even rented a Limousine to take the group to the dance and it was a big surprise for everyone. "It was awesome, I got to dance with my own girls and I got to dance with Avery and Alivia. All five of us danced together a couple of times." He continued, "Then when we got ready to go, we climbed into the limo and I took them out for ice cream." Avery and Alivia also released balloons that read "#BeLikeLuke" in their dad's memory before the dance, because he was able to impact the lives of 65 people through organ donation.
Culbert also started a GoFundMe to help get funds for the girls' college education and to secure their future. "I want to help them chase their dreams and make a lasting impression on the world just as their dad did," the man remarked. "A 4-year degree in Michigan currently averages nearly $75k. Every kind dollar donated will go directly toward the college educations of Avery and Alivia. These donations will go into a trust fund for them and be owned by their mother." Before the dance, Culbert told the girls, "I wanted to let them know that their dad is here with them today. And I am not trying to be their dad, I am just trying to be here with them," per CBS News.