Every now and again, ordinary people perform extraordinary acts that renew our confidence in humanity. I recently came across a heartfelt post on Facebook that brought tears to my eyes. It’s the story of a father who recalls a beautiful moment when a girl unexpectedly entered his workplace and inquired about his autistic son.
The desires of special needs children are frequently no different from those of other youngsters their age. Just like any 17-year-old, finding a date for the school dance becomes a top priority. However, it can be a harsh blow to one’s self-confidence if no one agrees to go. Going alone can feel like social ruin for a teenager, undermining their self-assurance.
Children with specific challenges, such as autism, may be even more hypersensitive and lack the social skills necessary to fully absorb everything. But in this heartwarming tale, the father, Mike Larson, made the decision to record what transpired as his autistic son, Jon, prepared for his high school prom. He then posted the entire account on Facebook, where millions of users have since shared and loved it.
“This is my son Jon with his prom date Maddi,” wrote Mike in the caption of his prom photo post. “He is a junior and he has autism. About a month ago, Maddi, a senior, came to my office (I’m a teacher at their school) and asked if Jon’s mom and I would allow her to take him to prom.”
Maddi had gotten to know Jon through a school club that promotes friendships between special needs kids and regular kids. “He’s a junior,” she explained, “so it’s his prom too. I just think he should have the chance to go.” Mike told her they would be honored to have him go with her.
In addition to inviting Jon as her prom date, Maddi wanted him to experience the best night of his life. She performed some research and discovered that Jon’s favorite color was orange, which allowed her to buy a dress in that hue. She also made reservations at a restaurant that served his favorite meals, chicken fingers, French fries, and chocolate milk, for their group.
Maddi’s thoughtfulness extended to speaking with Jon’s father before asking him to the dance. “It was a pretty breathtaking moment for me,” Mike Larson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The prom photo post went viral in 2013, and Mike Larson subsequently provided updates on the couple’s post-prom lives. In 2019, he celebrated that the post had reached 1 million shares and had spread worldwide. He also shared that Jon is doing well and happy, still living at home.
Mike revealed that Maddi is now married and sometimes feels “embarrassed” by all the attention, as she didn’t see her gesture as anything out of the ordinary. He concluded the post by saying, “Thanks to all who have wished them well.”
When Jon was diagnosed with autism more than 16 years ago, his father never imagined that he would attend a prom. But Maddi made it possible for Jon to not only attend the prom but also have a great night!
“It’s something I never thought would happen for our family, and not only did it happen, but it’s happened in such a beautiful way,” Mike Larson said. “And to have it go on and bless the lives of other people is beyond anything I ever could have hoped for. It will be one of the nicest memories of our lives.”
I really appreciate that there are still kind and warm-hearted people out there—it spreads hope to us all. If you also like this story, feel free to share it with your loved ones. This young lady’s sweetness and considerate nature, asking his parents first, deserve to be remembered through many photos of that special event.
