Teen Asked His Little Sister, Who's Terminally Ill, To School Dance

Teen Asked His Little Sister To Be His Date

Most teenaged boys wouldn't dream of taking their little sister along with them to a school dance. But AJ Spader is not your typical teenage boy. And this teen asked his little sister to be his date to his first high school dance for a reason that both warmed and broke my heart all at the same time!

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You see, AJ's littler sister, Rebekah, is battling a terminal illness. And after multiple treatments, including a bone marrow transplant, have failed, only God knows exactly how long the 10-year-old girl has left on this earth. So, her 15-year-old brother selflessly set out to do something special for Rebekah.

"She probably won't be able to experience a dance herself, so I wanted to make sure she did," AJ said. "I also want to spend as much time with her as I can."

After receiving Rebekah's heartbreaking diagnosis, the family adopted the motto "Broken, brave, blessed." And so, AJ surprised his little sis with a poster that read: "I would be broken if you weren't my sister because you taught me how to be brave, and I would be blessed if you went to formal with me."

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Friends and family were all there to share in Rebekah's excitement as she gleefully accepted her brother's sweet offer. It remained a family affair as Rebekah got ready for the big night with the help of her mom, sister, and grandma. The sweet girl got to feel like a princess as she had her hair and makeup done, topped off with a beautiful tiara.

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Looking stunning in a dazzling navy blue dress, Rebekah simply beamed as she joined her big brother and his friends.

"AJ and his friends embraced her and embraced the situation and didn’t blink twice that a little 10-year-old sister was going to hang out with them," said Stephanie, mother to these sweet siblings. "That for me was the most special thing."

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The jovial crew socialized over pizza at the family's home and posed for pictures. When it came time to head to the dance, little Rebekah wasn't feeling up to it. She'd been in the hospital just three days before, so the family says it didn't come as much of a surprise. Still, AJ gave Rebekah a joy-filled evening she will never forget.

"It was all his idea. It really made my mama-heart happy to know that we've raised a son that would do something so selfless," Stephanie proudly explained.

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And it's a memory the family will always cherish, as well. Though they don't know how long Rebekah has, they can rest assured they are making the most of that time with moments like these.

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h/t: Today