Teen learned grandma had only 6 months to live, so he took her to his high school to give her 'the best gift of her life'
For children, learning the fact that their loved ones might not be around one day is quite heartbreaking. Many kids thoughtfully plan gestures to express their love for the family member they adore the most. When 17-year-old Stephen Vigil learned that his grandmother Julie Jarman was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had only a few months to live, he was devastated, reported Herald Courier. He wanted to do something special for his grandma, so he planned a series of surprises for her, one of which touched her heart the most.
Vigil started with a trip to Florida which was aided by the Dream Foundation. He also took his grandma out for lunch during Mother’s day weekend. Apart from other plans he eagerly made, he had one important one nearing. The teenager decided to take his 92-year-old grandmother to prom, per Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. “My sister kind of pulled me to the side and said, 'Why don't you just take Grandma to prom' and I didn't even have to think about it,” the grandson was quoted as saying by Inside Edition. It was a big shot, but Jarman was beyond excited as the grandma had never got the chance to go to prom. “My first prom will be with my very special grandson,” she remarked.
Initially, the school authorities didn’t allow partners over the age of 20, reported Mail Online. However, Vigil explained the whole situation to his principal Joseph Lewis and he was glad to oblige. “I’m just so happy we could do this for her and the family,” he noted. On the day of prom, the duo were excited and joyful like any other youngster. Right from getting haircuts to picking matching blue outfits, a corsage and everything, Jarman and Vigil were all set for the prom. The day arrived and the duo had the best time of their lives. Many, like the principal, offered their best wishes and support to make prom a fantastic event for the grandma and Vigil.
“There were a lot of tears that night when she came. We presented her with a tiara and with a sash to make it a little bit more special,” Lewis recalled. “We laughed, we talked, we had coffee and we had juice. It was just wonderful,” Jarman exclaimed. The DJ played “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis and the grandma-grandson duo had a beautiful dance to it. “That’s my grandmother’s all-time favorite song. She had a ball. She said she had the best gift of her life that night – she had never been to a prom,” Vigil noted.
Vigil was beyond grateful that several people came together to make the occasion a memorable one for his grandma. “I wasn’t sure what to expect at first. I didn’t know if the loud music would be too much. But we had a great time,” he noted, per Free Lance-Star. “She doesn’t have much time left, so I didn’t even have to think about the decision to take her to prom. I’m so glad we’ll both have these memories,” the teenager gladly said.