Being named high school Homecoming King and Queen is a dream come true for most teens. The honor of wearing your crown and reigning over the activities that are so important to school life is an exciting prospect.
But in Colorado, one Homecoming King willingly relinquished his title not long after being pictured alongside his homecoming queen. Nobody could believe he was giving up the honor and then he revealed all and everyone was so moved.
Douglas County High School senior Brad Cooley was crowned king along with queen 17-year-old Meghan Bailey. Meghan has a form of cerebral palsy that prevents her from being able to speak.
Brad told everyone it didn’t feel right and then he revealed who he was going to hand his crown to.
The worthy recipient of Brad’s crown was Meghan’s best friend Ian Brennan, who she had known since she was 5 years old. Ian, who has Down syndrome, had even planned to go to the homecoming dance with Meghan.
Brad felt Ian was more deserving than him, so he tracked him down and crowned him Homecoming King, Denver 7 reported.
“Something didn’t feel right to me, it didn’t feel like I was the one who was supposed to have it. There was just something in me that was like, I just felt like it would be better deserved for someone else,” said Brad.
Meghan’s mom Heidi Bailey was overjoyed when she found out what Brad had done for Meghan. Everyone who knew this lovely couple were so happy for them and now the story is capturing the hearts of people all over the world.
“It was amazing to have just the sweetness of sharing that moment, it was really amazing,” said Meghan’s mom.
Ian’s dad Jim was also moved by Brad’s generous gesture and explained what it meant to his son.
“It was really overwhelming, so it is a very special night and a special memory and we’re going to hold on to that one.”
Jim explained the gesture was made even more significant as it was an especially tough time for the family. Ian’s mom sadly passed away two months before Ian’s homecoming from liver cancer.
She was Ian’s biggest fan and would’ve loved to have watched her son be crowned homecoming king, Jim told Denver 7.
“She was my hero before she was diagnosed,” Jim added as Ian agreed with him and sweetly patted him on the back. “Our hope now is that we continue, along with a whole team of other people, the work that she did and just make the world a better place not just for Ian, but for everybody.”
Watch these two special people get the crowns they so rightly deserve in the video below.
[arve url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnO8_smlAsI” /]
What a generous soul Brad is and I hope this couple continue to have so many fun adventures together. Please share this heartwarming story with your friends and family.
