The homecoming dance is a highly anticipated event in high schools. It is an occasion where students dress and suit up to look their absolute best, making sure that they are ready to enjoy the fun-filled and memorable night ahead of them.
17-year-old Arizona boy Daniel Rivas has Down syndrome, and like his peers, he is looking forward to attending the homecoming dance. His mother, Tonya, was just as excited as her son.
But Daniel had a bit of a problem – his lack of a date. Unfortunately, every girl that he asked had turned him down.
Word got to 10th grader Kylie Fronius about Daniel’s dilemma. So she stepped up and did what she thought would make her classmate happy.
Kylie surprised Daniel one day in school by asking him to be her homecoming date. The teen was delighted by this invitation and he immediately accepted.
The sweet homecoming proposal hit social media and eventually got the attention of various media outlets.
One of those was Fox5 News, who featured the two teenagers in one of their broadcasts.
“I don’t think of kids that have a disability. I don’t think of them as being different. I think of them just being a normal person learning in a different way. “, Kylie told Fox 5 KVVU-TV.
With tears in her eyes, Tonya said: “Someone took the time to take my son to homecoming. Words can’t even describe what I’m feeling right now.”
Their story captured the hearts of so many people, that the Fox5 Surprise Squad decided to get involved and unleash a series of surprises for Kylie and Daniel.
On the night of their homecoming dance, they were greeted by Fox5 host Monica Jackson. Their first surprise? A Rolls Royce that would take them to their homecoming!
Feeling comfortable in their luxury ride, Tonya and the two teenagers were taken to Bistro 57, a high-class local bistro, for their dinner.
Kylie and Daniel continued to receive red carpet treatment throughout the evening. They were both dancing and enjoying the night when suddenly, Monica appeared on the auditorium stage and said: “We’re not done.”
The surprise squad announced that they were sending Kylie, Daniel and both their families to Disneyland. Since Daniel dreams of going to college and becoming a chef in the future, he was also given a $10,000 scholarship from United Nissan in Las Vegas.
As if these surprises weren’t enough, the squad had one last surprise for Kylie – a brand new car!
“All you had to do was watch the (original) news story that aired, and you saw a young lady with a huge heart, and she was inspirational,” said Don Forman, the owner of United Nissan.
This story is proof that you can never go wrong with being kind. Kylie wanted to help a fellow classmate in need, and she decided to help him in a way that she knew she could.
Tonya was deeply touched by Kylie’s act of kindness, and she said something that most probably every parent with a special needs child can relate to.
“It’s not that Daniel has a disability. It’s Kylie didn’t see any disability. That is what your heart wants as a mom.”
Prepare some tissues and watch the touching video below from Fox5 Las Vegas.