Stephen Vigil danced with his 92-year-old grandmother at his prom, while his friends danced with girls their own age. Her favorite song was played by the DJ. The young man got emotional that night as he watched his beloved grandmother dance and sing with him.
When doctors told Julia Jarman’s family that she only had six months to live, they were very sad. In February 2017, the old woman was told she had pancreatic cancer, which was a surprise.
Vigil was best friends with Jarman, who was her grandson. He really cared about her, and when he heard that she was dying, it made him sad. Soon, the 17-year-old and his sister came up with a plan to make Jarman’s last days special.
Making Memories
When Vigil heard that his grandmother was sick, he took her to Florida, where they stayed for a week. On Mother’s Day, he took her to lunch, and afterward, they went to the graves of some of their family members.
Vigil wanted to make his grandmother’s last six months very special. And when it was almost time for his high school prom, his sister gave him a great idea. She said:
“Why don’t you just go to prom with Grandma?”
Her first night at the prom
When Vigil heard what his sister said, he immediately thought of Jarman, who had never been to a prom. But he had to do one important thing before he could ask his grandmother to go with him to one of the most important events of his life.
Vigil walked into the event with his grandmother on his arm, while other teenagers walked in with girls their own age.
Vigil called Stafford High School’s principal in Virginia to ask if he could bring his grandmother to prom. The school had a rule that students could only have partners under 20, so Vigil wasn’t sure if his grandmother could come with him.
She agreed.
Joseph Lewis, the principal, let Vigil bring Jarman to the prom, which surprised Vigil. The young man asked his grandmother if she wanted to go to her first prom, and she said yes. Vigil recalled:
“Her hair was cut. We got her nails done.”
Jarman wore a simple pearl necklace with a blue dress that matched her grandson’s outfit. Vigil walked into the event with his grandmother on his arm, while other teenagers walked in with girls their own age.
The Night to Remember
Lewis and his staff gave Jarman a sash and a sparkling crown as a welcome to the prom. The fact that Jarman’s first prom took place the night before her 92nd birthday made it even more special.
Vigil wasn’t sure how his classmates would react when they saw her dancing with Jarman at first. Later, he was happy to see how well everyone got along with her.
Vigil asked the DJ to play “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley so that his grandmother could have a memorable experience. When the music started, Vigil held his grandmother’s hand and danced with her. He thought back:
“As we were dancing, she sang along with me and almost made me cry.”
His Best Friend
Since I was born, she has been one of my best friends, Vigil said. His mother, on the other hand, was very proud of how hard he worked to make his grandmother’s last months special. The teen went on to say:
“I wanted to take my grandmother to prom because I wanted to do something special for her.”
“We laughed, we talked, we had coffee and juice,” Jarman said. “It was just wonderful,” the older woman said of her first prom night.
The messages of support
When Vigil and Jarman’s unusual story started to spread on social media, people couldn’t help but send them messages of support. Some of the things they said are below:
“What an amazing boy. His eyes show how much he loves his grandmother. What a lovely story! Sad but also makes you feel better.”
“What a thoughtful and kind young man. He’s a great example to follow. He is kind and caring.
Vigil’s kind act not only won the heart of his grandmother, but also made him a hero in the eyes of people all over the world. Tell this story to your family and friends to make them smile.
Click here to read another sad story about a boy who invited his sister to prom two days before she died, which was her last wish.