It was senior night at the University of Texas in Austin recently and the Texas Longhorn softball players took to the field to celebrate. Senior night is a time for the sports players to commemorate their final year on the team and to be honored for all of their hard work before moving on to the next stage of their life.
Itโs one of the most important games of the season for the older players.
However, our favorite part of this yearโs senior night was how one of the star players, KiโAudra, got an additional surprise from her older brother who was supposed to be stationed overseas.
One by one, the players lined up on the field as the announcers listed off all of their individual accomplishments from their four years on the team.
When it was KiโAudraโs turn, they had something extra special in store.
The announcers broadcasted a message on the jumbotron from her brother Army Sergeant LaโKedran Hayter who at the time, everyone thought was still in Okinawa, Japan.
โHey, KiโAudra. I just wanted to tell you congratulations. Iโm proud of you. I really wish I could be there tonight. Thereโs no place I would rather be. Good luck on tonightโs game and Iโll see you very soon,โ said LaโKedran.
It was an emotional moment that brought tears to KiโAudras eyes.
โThey had stopped me halfway down the line to tell me to pay attention to the jumbotron, and I just saw my brother pop up and as soon as I saw his face and just heard his voice, I just immediately got emotional and started crying,โ said KiโAudra.
However, that was just the start of the surprise.
When LaโKedran said, โIโll see you very soon,โ he meant it.
โLadies and gentlemen, join us in welcoming home Army Sergeant LaโKedran Hayter,โ the announcer said over the loudspeakers.
All of a sudden, LaโKedran came casually strolling out onto the field in full Army uniform to say hello.
KiโAudra couldnโt believe it. She was so shocked that she fell down to her knees, completely overwhelmed with emotion.
โI just broke down, because I havenโt seen my brother in two years,โ said KiโAudra.
LaโKedran helped his sister up off the ground and immediately gave her a giant hug.
Itโs not easy being part of a military family. The distance between siblings can sometimes be difficult to deal with, but it does make for some pretty incredible reunions.
โHe was like, โGet up! Are you going to be able to play?โ, said KiโAudra. โAnd I was like โNo, Iโm not!โ Like, โCome here!โ Like, โDonโt leave!โ
It meant so much to KiโAudra that her brother was able to make it to the game to see her on her special day.
She never wanted to let him go again.
โYโall really had me crying in front of millions of people! Thatโs not cool at all,โ KiโAudra joked.
It was such a beautiful moment. KiโAudra never expected to see her brother so soon, especially on senior night, but she was so happy that he could make it.
Just a few days prior, KiโAudra had Tweeted that she really wished her brother could be there to watch her play one more time. She never thought her wish would come true, but we are so glad that it did.
Watch the heartwarming moment that KiโAudra is surprised at the softball game by her deployed big brother below.
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