Occasionally, We Encounter Ordinary People Who Do Extraordinary Things That Restore Our Faith in Humanity.
This touching story was shared on Facebook some time ago, but it remains a heartwarming example of kindness and inclusivity. It’s worth sharing again to spread some positivity.
The story centers on a father recounting the moment a young girl visited him to ask if she could take his autistic son to prom.
For children with special needs, having experiences similar to their peers can mean the world. Events like a school dance or prom hold significant importance for a teenager, and finding a partner to attend with can greatly impact their confidence. The absence of a date can feel like a devastating blow.
For many teens, going alone might not seem like a big deal in the broader scheme of life, but for some—especially those with special needs—it can amplify feelings of isolation or self-doubt. Children with conditions like autism may face additional challenges in navigating social situations and understanding the nuances of such events.
In this particular story, the father, Mike Larson, decided to document and share the experience of his autistic son, Jon, preparing for prom. The heartfelt moment occurred when Maddi, a senior at Jon’s school, approached Mike to ask if she could take Jon to the event. Mike shared the story on Facebook, where it quickly went viral, capturing the hearts of millions.
“This is my son Jon, with his prom date, Maddi,” Mike wrote in the caption of a prom photo. “He’s a junior and has autism. About a month ago, Maddi, a senior, came to my office and asked if Jon’s mom and I would allow her to take him to prom.”
Before inviting Jon to the dance, Maddi wanted to ask his father if it would be okay.
“It was a pretty breathtaking moment for me,” Mike Larson told Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Mike’s prom post
According to Mike, he had three reasons for making the prom photo post on social media.
1. “to show support for special kids like Jon.”
2. “to show support for groups that promote these friendships.”
3. “to remind us all, in a time when we hear about all the terrible things going on, that there are wonderful kids like Maddi working to make other’s lives better.“
The viral prom photo was originally posted in 2013, and after that, Mike Larson continued to give updates on what happened to the couple after the prom.
In 2019, he celebrated that the post had reached 1 million shares and that his text had been spread worldwide. He also explained how everyone was doing: “Many have asked how Jon is doing. He is well and happy, still living at home.”
Mike also revealed that Maddi is now married and sometimes feels “embarrassed” by all the attention – she didn’t see this as a special thing. Mike concluded the post by saying, “Thanks to all who have wished them well.”
When Jon was diagnosed with autism more than 16 years ago, his father made up several scenarios in his head. One was that his son would never go to a prom because of his autism. But thanks to Maddi, Jon was not just able to go to prom but have a wonderful night!
”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. ”And to have it go on and bless the lives of other people is beyond anything I ever could have hoped for. It will be one of the nicest memories of our lives.”
