A 9-Year Old's Wedding Wish

 

 

A nine year old shouldn't be creating a "bucket list."   A nine year old is supposed to believe she'll live forever, and hold steadfast to this belief through her teens. But sometimes a child knows her life is limited.  Like a nine year old with late-stage leukemia.  Like little Jayla Cooper.

What does a kid that age want before she dies?  My guess would be to meet the latest pop star. Go to Disneyland with a pass to the front of the line.  Eat hot fudge sundaes for breakfast. My daughter would probably request to spend the night at the American Girl Place.  Evidently, such excursions were far too cliche for Ms. Jayla. Her wish was to have a wedding. And a wedding is what she got.  It may not have been a legal ceremony, but it seemed perfect. 

The more I think about it, the less surprised I am that a wedding was her dying wish.  I haven't met a woman yet who didn't have her wedding planned out by time she was twelve. When I was young, I had a file folder full of magazine tear-outs of dresses, bouquets, and embellished cakes. That wedding folder followed me to college, on to graduate school, and into my 30's when I got engaged.  Of course, by the time I was finally planning my wedding, everything in the folder was hopelessly outdated. We aspire to be Cinderella from the moment the fairytale is introduced to us at age two. And we spend the rest of our lives searching for that prince (or in some cases, another princess).

I think most nine year old girls still believe boys are pretty gross.  But, I'm sure Jayla is not like most little girls.  Having gone through the devastating hardship of cancer, she is probably more mature than most kids her age.

She married her best friend, Jose, a patient at the same hospital.  They "vowed" to always be friends.

Thank you, Jayla, for reminding us to just go for it. To live life, and pursue our dreams, regardless of our age and limitations. And to love endlessly. You may be getting your angel wings soon, little one.  We will remember you for helping us to love a little bit stronger.  

 

To read about Jayla and view the sweet wedding photos, please visit Parent Dish.

 

 

Comments

[LINDSAY]

what a sad story.. I was not one of the girls who thought about her wedding, and if i had a wish when i was her age, it would have been to play baseball with Don Mattingly and Wade Boggs.. But i think its GREAT that they figured out a NON CREEPY way to get two kids to have what they want.. Its really a cool thing..

Originally i thought... ewww... creepy.. but to VOW to be friends forever is great

[Lori-Ann]

That made me teary. What a brave little girl. The pictures are too cute. Such a wonderful thing that she was able to fulfill her wish but at the same time I can't help but feel sad :-(

[Amy]

what an amazing story...my cousin works for Make a Wish...it's amazing what they do for these kids...and how amazingly brave these kids are...
~A~

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