Just because a person was born with a disability doesnโt mean they shouldnโt have the same high school experience as their peers.
Sadly, they can sometimes feel left out of certain activities because of their differences.
People with Down syndrome are beautiful, intelligent beings who crave interaction and fun like anyone else.
This means that teenagers with Down Syndrome still enjoy fun activities at school and that they still want to go to prom just like every other 17-year-old.
This touching story is about a promise made in elementary school that was fulfilled seven years later.
Ben Moser, who played football at Susquehanna as a quarterback, used to have a good friend in elementary school. Her name is Mary, and she happens to have Down syndrome.
However, this wasnโt an obstacle for them to become friends. In fact, the two of them enjoyed spending time together.
โI thought Mary was really cool,โ Ben told the Patriot News. โShe was sweet and easy to get along with.โ And Mary added that โHe was sweet and he was nice.โ
They became friends in fourth grade, but Benโs mom didnโt know until the end of the school year when her son asked her if kids with Down syndrome get to go to prom.
โBen had gone to his cousinโs prom walk,โ his mom said, โand on the way home, he said โMom, do kids like Mary go to prom?โ and I said โSure, honey, if someone asks them. Why do you ask?โ [and he said] โWell, you know what? Iโm gonna take Mary to prom.'โ
And a few years later, it was time for Ben to fulfill his promise, although he and Mary had gone to different schools in the meantime.
Ben and Mary ended up in different high schools, Ben at Susquehanna High School and Mary at Central Dauphin, where her dad was a math teacher. But they shared a love for sports.
Mary was the equipment manager for her schoolโs football team, while Ben was the quarterback for his.
Although they were practically rivals, Ben still had to keep his promise.
โI donโt think it should be too weird,โ Ben joked. โThere [are] good kids there.โ
Indeed, he bought balloons and wrote โpromโ on them, and went to Maryโs house to ask her to go to prom with him.
Mary didnโt know that Ben would want to take her to prom. However, she was thrilled about going with her buddy.
โI was surprised,โ Mary admitted, smiling. โI was going to go with some friends.โ
So, when the big day came, Ben and Mary looked amazing in their matching outfits, and their parents and fourth-grade teacher were there with big smiles- and maybe some tears in their eyes.
โToday with joyful tears in my eyes and down my face I watched a promise made, 7 years ago, to a beautiful girl fulfilled,โ Benโs mom wrote on Facebook.
By far one of the best teachers to touch our childrenโs lives!!!! Thank you Tracey Spogli from the bottom of my heart for loving our two kids like you did, have and always will!!!!! Love you!
The teens looked fabulous in their prom pictures, and thereโs no doubt they had an unforgettable evening.
As a quarterback, Ben likely had many girls that wouldโve loved to be his date to prom. In this case, he made the most beautiful choice possible by going with his friend Mary.
Watch the video below to see an interview with the sweet friends before they head to the dance!
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