One teenager has shown that he has an immensely loving heart, after choosing to take his terminally ill sister to his high-school winter formal. The story of sibling love has been breaking hearts across the internet.
When it came to choosing who to take to his first high school dance, AJ Spader knew there was only one person.
High-school can be a difficult time for anyone, and the prospect of your first high-school formal in particular can be very daunting!
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However, 15-year-old Spader stepped up to the plate and asked his 10-year-old sister Rebekah to the winter formal — as he knew that there was a chance that she may not make it to high-school herself.
Rebekah Spader had been ill from a young age.
Rebekah was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome at age 6. Myelodysplastic syndrome is a form of bone cancer that affects blood cells in the bone marrow and can be potentially terminal.
This, combined with her hereditary nervous disorder, had a profoundly negative impact on her health.
The illness can sometimes be treatable with a bone-marrow transplant.
However, for Rebekah, the transplant surgery was unsuccessful. Following the unsuccessful surgery, the Spader family made the tough decision to cease treatment and allow Rebekah to enjoy the time that she had left more fully. Sadly, however, it was unlikely that she would survive long enough to go to high-school.
Thanks to AJ, Rebekah was able to experience some of the excitement of high-school.
AJ decided to take the opportunity to spend as much time as he could with his sister, making memories for the both of them to cherish. AJ asked his sister by reading aloud from a large poster he made for her. He read:
“I would be broken if you weren’t my sister because you taught me how to be brave and I’d be blessed if you went to formal with me”.
Rebekah was elated at the opportunity to experience a high-school dance.
The Spader family motto is “Broken. Brave. Blessed.” something which the family said was a real source of inspiration during Rebekah’s difficult time. AJ, speaking to KDLT , explained how the family motto helped keep the family’s spirits up:
“It’s been hard but we get through it as a family, so that makes it easier.”
AJ’s parents were unbelievably proud of their son’s actions.
Father Tony spoke heartfelt words about what AJ’s actions meant to not just Rebekah, but to the family as a whole. It is amazing how they remained so brave in the face of such tragedy.
“AJ was able to kind of look past himself and what he would want and try and give her, Rebekah, an experience that she’s not going to be able to have because she probably won’t make it to her high school years,” Tony told KLDT .
“The fun days when they get to do what they want to do and things seem normal even though the last two days we were in the hospital wondering if she was going to make it. Days she looks normal and seems normal are the days that we treasure,” he added.
The pair got extremely dressed up for the wonderful occasion.
AJ presented his sister with a glittering green corsage. Rebekah also got her hair and make-up done by her mother and got a new dress especially for the occasion.
AJ, his sister, and some friends then had dinner together and had to pose for the obligatory family photographs, as parents scrabbled to capture pictures for the family albums!
People took to social media to praise AJ for his actions.
People across the world were moved by AJ and Rebekah’s story and took to social media to share their feelings — inspiring such comments as:
“Beautiful brother and sister! Both are so loving and giving! It’s a beautiful gesture of love when a Wish child wishes to give to others! God bless these children and the parents who are raising this amazing family!”
“She looks absolutely beautiful It’s wonderful to see this young man acting selflessly for his little sister”
“Not doing this for like or any of that bullsh*t, but I also have cancer and this type of stuff always makes my heart melt. He’s going to grow up to be a fine young man, and that little girl deserves to live a long, happy life, not being battered with radiation and constant pain.”
This was not the first time that Rebekah had hit headlines either.
After she had discovered that the transplant surgery had not worked, Rebekah made a bucket list. On that list, was to start a fundraiser for Make A Wish. And, after helping organize a concert for the cause, she managed to raise around $20, 000 for Make A Wish South Dakota.
Tragically, Rebekah has since passed.
Rebekah sadly died not long after her brother asked her to the dance. And, while it is a tragedy, it is important to remember what an inspiration this young girl was. In the face of her uncertain fate, she dedicated her time to raising money to help others in times of need. She did so much with the time that she had, and she should be remembered as an inspiration to others.
h/t: KDLT & Daily Mail
