Teen Refuses To Attend Prom After Boyfriend’s Death, So His Father Decides To Take Her To The Event
Kaylee Suders and Carter Brown had been dating more than a year when he tragically died in an accident. Kaylee was so devastated by the loss that she refused to go to her own prom.
“I hadn’t heard from him a few hours and then… my mom told me. I was devastated. That’s my best friend,” Suders tells PEOPLE. “I felt like my world was taken from me.”
Suders spent the following weeks staying with Carter’s parents. Carter’s father, Robert, says he watched Suders struggling to cope with his son’s death. So, the 50-year-old father of four came up with an idea.
He decided to ask Suders to her senior prom at James Buchanan High School in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania.
“My son would’ve wanted her to go,” the grieving father tells PEOPLE of Suders. “So I said, ‘I know Carter’s not here to take you, but maybe I could be the next best thing.’ She got teary-eyed and gave me a big hug.”
Although Kaylee did not want to go to prom after Carter’s death, it was easy to say yes to his dad. The two started the night off at the same T.G.I. Friday’s that Carter and Kaylee had gone to on their first date. Carter’s mom said the fact that Robert asked Kaylee to prom shows how much she is still a cherished part of their family.
Kaylee looked stunning in a pink princess ballgown dress. Robert looked dapper in the complementary suit with pink tie. Kaylee even posed with a giant picture of Carter in her prom dress. It is clear that his spirit was there with them on their special night.
Now, both Suders and Robert say they’ll cherish their prom photos, along with many other memories of Carter.
“Getting involved with prom has helped. Seeing Kaylee so happy has helped. It’s kept our minds busy,” Robert says. “Carter was such an amazing young man. He cared about everyone. It’s almost like he’s still touching people from heaven.”
These sweet pictures will melt anyone’s heart. It is clear that the two are still grieving the loss of Carter. However, his memory certainly lived on because of this night at the prom. What do you think about the way Kaylee’s handled her prom? Tell us in the comments and pass this heartwarming story on to your friends and loved ones.
