Most parents would do anything to make their kids happy, but as 12-year-old Keith lie dying from cancer, his mother went above and beyond to make his last dreams come true.
“Kourageous Keith”, as he was known to his fans, had been battling cancer for half of his life. He started showing signs of the disease at 5 years old, being diagnosed two years later. Since then, the young boy had had several rounds of aggressive treatment, but nothing could keep the illness at bay. Cancer ultimately spread to his skull, shoulder, spine, and liver, and he’d been living his final days at home with hospice care.
Earlier this year, the boy made headlines when his town planned a Christmas celebration two months earlier to honor him. Doctors had told Keith’s family he may not live to see the holiday, so everyone rushed to give him a celebration to remember. His mother, Taylore Woodard, told Fox News:
“He loves Christmas. His life has been taken up with cancer and medicines, and I wanted my son to enjoy one last Christmas. So, at the end of December, we made our house into a winter wonderland.”
The entire town of Stow, Ohio, chipped in, decorating their homes, singing carols, and even having a mini parade. At one point, Keith was honored by the mayor who gave him a medal of bravery. Keith’s condition grew increasingly worse and recently, the young man asked his mother for a final wish.
“He said, ‘Well momma, I would like to walk you down the aisle before I die.”
“And then I was like, you know what, we’re making it happen.”
Taylore’s wedding was scheduled to be held a few days later, but not sure if Keith would make it, they held an impromptu ceremony in their living room instead. During the event, Keith accompanied his mother down the aisle in a heartbreaking display of love. Throughout the emotional ceremony, he sat in a wheelchair by her side.
Then three days later, Keith passed away.
The heartbreaking wedding footage was shared to the “Kourageous Keith” Facebook page, where it immediately went viral.
In the post, Taylore called the wedding “the most bittersweet, heartbreaking, emotional day” of her life. “Today at 12:57 pm Keith earned his angel wings and is now in Heaven in peace to be with God,” she wrote. “Mommy misses you so much already baby boy… A piece of me will forever be gone.”
Despite her grief, Taylor hopes Keith struggles serve as an important reminder to others out there.
“I hope Keith showed each and every single one of you that life is short, and you should NEVER take that for granted.”
“I hope Keith showed each and every one of you that love always conquers evil.”
“I hope Keith showed each and [every one] of you that despite any obstacle you may face that you should NEVER GIVE UP!”
Watch the emotional footage below.
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