Every now and then, average people do extraordinary things that make us believe in humanity again.
Why not spread the word about this sincere letter that was shared a few years ago on Facebook? Every time I see it, it still brings me to tears.
The parent at the center of the narrative recalls the day a woman barged into his office and demanded to talk to him about his autistic child.
Children with special disabilities frequently seek the same experiences as other children their own age. Finding a date for the school dance is every 17-year-old’s top priority, therefore it might be quite detrimental to their self-esteem if no one else wants to go.
Going alone can be a social disaster for an adolescent, even though it might not seem like a major concern in the larger scheme of things. For this reason, not finding a companion could seriously jeopardize one’s self-esteem.
Certain youngsters lack the cognitive ability to comprehend everything and are extremely sensitive; this is especially true of children with exceptional problems, such as autism.
In this story, Mike Larson, the father of the autistic kid Jon, decided to document the activities leading up to his high school prom. He shared the entire story on Facebook, and millions of others have read and appreciated it since then. Go on reading!
“This is my son Jon with his prom date Maddi,” Mike wrote as the description for his prom photo. “He’s a junior and has autism.” Maddi, a senior at the school where I teach, asked if Jon’s parents and I would let her take him to prom about a month ago.
Update: In honor of this post’s sixth anniversary, I’m reposting. Last week, it crossed the one million share mark. I’ve been given…
On Saturday, April 27, 2013, Mike Larson
Mike went on to explain, “Maddi had gotten to know Jon through a school club that promotes friendships between special needs kids and regular kids.””He’s a junior, so this is also his prom,” she continued. To put it plainly, I think he should be allowed to leave. I told her that we would be happy for him to accompany her.
Maddi chose to accompany Jon because she wanted him to enjoy the time of his life on prom night. She discovered after doing some research that Jon loves the color orange, so she purchased some clothes in that shade. She also booked appointments for their celebration table, which they shared with another couple, at a restaurant that served his favorite meals, chicken fingers, French fries, and chocolate milk.
Before asking Jon to the dance, Maddi was apprehensive to consult with his father.
“It was a pretty breathtaking moment,” Mike Larson said. He informed the Journal Sentinel in Milwaukee.
Mike provided a justification for posting the prom photo on social media.
“To demonstrate our support for the groups that cultivate these friendships.” 3. “To support children with special needs like Jon.”3. “to serve as a reminder to everyone that, in spite of all the negative things happening in the world, there are good-hearted young people like Maddi who are trying to make our lives better.”
After the couple’s post-prom life was initially made public in 2013, Mike Larson kept posting updates about it.
On Sunday, April 28, 2013, Mike Larson
In 2019, he celebrated sharing his material on social media for the one millionth time and its global reach. He gave an update on everyone’s health, saying, “Many have wondered how Jon is doing.” He remains at home and is thriving.
Further, Mike mentioned that Maddi, who is now married, feels that the attention sometimes embarrasses her and isn’t sure it’s a good thing. “I would like to thank everyone who has sent them well wishes,” Mike wrote at the end of the communication.
More than sixteen years ago, when Jon’s father was diagnosed with autism, he considered many options. Initially, his son’s autism prevents him from ever going to a prom. But Maddi made it possible for Jon to not only attend the prom but also have a fantastic time!
“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 in a statement. “And it’s beyond my wildest dreams that it will go on and enrich other people’s lives.” It will be one of our most cherished memories.
It’s 20 years old today—how is that possible? Jon, I adore you.
On Monday, January 19, 2015, Mike Larson
It offers hope to everyone that good and decent individuals still exist in the world. I love that information so much. Tell your loved ones about this story, as the father has requested, if you find it enjoyable!
This young child is very kind and thoughtful to first ask his parents for advice! I hope they took tons of photos of themselves to capture the memories of that amazing day!
