Those among us who have lost someone we held dear can attest to the irrefutable fact that life is only ever one day from being turned on its head.
It’s arguably what makes our existence so special and unique: that we truly never know what’s waiting around the corner, or how it might impact us for the rest of our time on this earth.
The concept of life’s fragility might not come as a surprise to most, but it’s only when you lose a loved one that you truly realize just how much hangs in the balance.
19-year-old Carter Brown was a freshman at Indiana State University in 2018. He had a loving family and was in a stable relationship with the girl he thought was the love of his life, Kaylee Suders.
The pair had been friends at first, but their affection for one another soon developed into something more serious.
Then, on April 15, 2018, Carter was on the way home from university to give a surprise to Kaylee when he was involved in a tragic and fatal accident.
As per reports, Carter died from injuries sustained in a car crash, just a year after his older brother, 23-year-old Chris, had also passed away.
Needless to say, his loved ones were left with a hole in their lives that could never be filled.
“The worst thing for a parent is losing a child, but to lose two in seven months, it’s terrible,” the brothers’ father, Chris Brown, said.
Another person left devastated by Carter’s passing was, of course, his girlfriend, Kaylee. The couple had made a number of plans for the future, including one to attend Kaylee’s upcoming prom night together.
Given Carter’s tragic passing, Kaylee, a high school senior at James Buchanan High School in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, decided to skip prom altogether – she knew in her heart of hearts that the event simply wouldn’t be the same.
Coincidentally, Carter’s father, Robert, was a football coach at the high school. When he caught wind of Kaylee’s tough decision, he took it upon himself to intervene.
“When the passing topic of prom came up, I kept thinking my son would want [Kaylee] to go,” he explained. “That prompted me to get the ball rolling.”
Robert devised a heartwarming plan, contacting the high school’s principal to get the green light. He then reached out to Kaylee with a proposal that she never saw coming.
Kaylee agreed, and the two even had a pre-prom meal at TGI Friday’s, the same restaurant where she and Carter had their first date.
Kaylee recalled: “I know [Carter] was watching over us and probably smiling ear to ear at the fact that his dad went with me.”
By all accounts, Kaylee and Robert had a great time at the prom. Not only did Kaylee have the chance to get all dressed up and showered with affection, but Robert said he also created fond memories that would last a life time.
Robert’s wife (Chris and Carter’s mother), Kelly Brown, posted about the memorable occasion on Facebook. There, she shared adorable pictures of Kaylee and her husband. The accompanying caption read:
“Add this to the list of reasons why I love my husband. Since Carter couldn’t escort Kaylee to her prom, Robert stepped in. Kaylee, I know Rob wasn’t your first choice for a date, but he will forever be mine.”