Grief is an emotion that breaks hearts in ways that take years for people to heal, an emotion that can never be captured in words. Imagine the grief one goes through after losing a child. It shatters your heart and makes you numb. For Kelly, it happened twice! She states the pain was unbearable; however, staying firm in her faith, she made it through with great strength and resilience. A superwoman indeed.
Just a year before tragedy struck, Kelly’s life was complete. She had four sons, Jonathan, Christopher, Hunter, and Carter, and a husband she adored. Her oldest boys were working, Hunter was in college, and Carter was finishing high school with dreams of college ahead. Life felt good. Kelly and her husband looked forward to their “empty nest” years. The youngest Carter also fell deeply in love with Kaylee, a longtime friend. Their bond was beautiful and was all about simple evenings watching shows, eating dinner, and spending time together. Kelly and her husband felt proud whenever they saw Kaylee being treated so lovingly by their sons. It was bliss!
However, life took a devastating turn in 2017. something they never saw coming. It was when Christopher, at the age of 24, overdosed on opioids, and this is why he passed away. Kelly describes the feeling in one word: broken. Family and friends gathered, surrounding them with love. The family held a small celebration surrounded by close friends at home to honor him. On that day, they planted a tree to honour him, one that would remind the family of his presence in their lives.
As time passed, the family tried to find a new “normal.” The family attempted to shift their routine back to normal as time passed. Thus, it was time for Carte to return to college, whereas Kaylee spent most of her time surrounded by friends so she wouldn’t recall the grief. Slowly, she began to feel small glimpses of real happiness again. By Easter, Carter had exciting news—he earned a college externship in Florida. Kaylee was preparing for her senior prom, and the family started to believe healing was possible.
Then, tragedy struck again. Just two weeks later, Carter fell asleep at the wheel on his way to surprise Kaylee. He never made it home. At that moment, Kelly says broken became shattered. The family gathered again, planting another tree, grieving another precious life taken too soon. During this heartbreak, someone asked Kaylee if she still planned to attend prom. She quietly said she would skip it. The thought of her missing something so special broke Kelly’s heart. Carter would have wanted her to go. That’s when Kelly’s husband, Rob, said without hesitation, “I’ll take her if she’ll let me.”
When Rob finally asked, Kaylee tearfully agreed, and soon, the two prepared for the night. While Kaylee made an appointment to get her hair and makeup done, Rob and three family members picked out the tuxedo he would wear. With tears in their eyes, they explained to the store staff why a 50-year-old man was renting a tux for prom. Rob even washed Carter’s car so Kaylee could arrive in style. They had something to look forward to for the first time in weeks.
On the big night, Kaylee looked breathtakingly beautiful! She and Rob had dinner at the same restaurant where she and Carter once went for their first date. They arrived at the prom in Carter’s car, greeted by friends and family cheering them on. Rob escorted her inside, his arm extended like Carter would have done. Though Kelly wasn’t there to dance, she later heard Rob and Kaylee light the dance floor.
Kelly posted the photos online, just as she had for every prom. The story spread worldwide, touching strangers who sent encouragement and love. It wasn’t easy watching Rob in the tux Carter should have worn, or ordering a corsage Carter should have placed on Kaylee’s wrist, but it was an act of love that brought strength. Kelly learned something powerful: healing begins when you do something hard out of love for someone else. That night wasn’t the prom they planned, but it was the prom they needed.
