Dad Takes Disabled Daughter to Prom, Finds $10K Check for ‘Dad of the Year’ in Mailbox Later — Story of the Day

A disabled girl who falls behind without a prom date is in for a surprise when her dad takes her to the prom. The reward he gets the next day in recognition of his love for his child transforms their lives.

“Molly, look! Your dad’s here!” someone from the funeral told the 17-year-old girl who was mourning over her mother Daisy’s coffin.

Danny, Molly’s dad, and her mom had divorced ten years ago. Since then, Molly had only heard terrible things about her father—like he was a ‘drunkard’ and such.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Though Molly didn’t have any bitterness towards Danny, she often missed their dad-daughter connection. But after her mom’s funeral, things were going to change for Molly…

“Hey, sweetheart!” Danny greeted his daughter and hugged her before placing a wreath on his ex-wife’s coffin.

“Sir, is that truck yours? It’s blocking half the parking. You mind moving it?” a guest asked Danny, who was a truck driver.

“Yeah, that’s ma truck. Gimme a second. I’ve just met ma daughter. Hope ya understand. Thank ya!”

Danny was delighted to meet Molly. The only link he had with her all these years was through the child support he paid for her. Daisy never allowed him to see Molly because she feared he would become a bad influence.

The funeral was over, and everybody left. Danny packed all of Molly’s stuff and told her they were going to his house.

“A parcel? Who sent it?” he wondered. A card on it read: “For Dad of the Year”

“But why, dad? I can’t leave this house. Mom and I lived here. It’s filled with our memories.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Molly frowned because Danny wouldn’t listen. He knew he could not leave his daughter alone, particularly considering she often used a wheelchair when she didn’t need crutches. Due to an underlying condition she had developed in her left leg when she was six, Molly limped.

Two days later, Molly moved in with her dad. Though the house was compact and untidy, it comforted her and made her feel loved and included.

As days passed, Danny had difficulty doing things for Molly. Since he never saw her grow up, he did not know how to tackle most things, like braiding her hair, for example. He learned how to do it by watching online videos. But that was not all.

He vacated his bedroom so that Molly would have a nice space to sleep. He even bought a fluffy new bed so that she could rest well. Danny did everything on his end to make his daughter feel at home, but if there was something he kept a secret, it was his constant disappearance at night.

Molly had no idea where her dad had been going at night after she fell asleep. She could only guess he was loitering with his friends in the pub, just as her mother often told her.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

A few days later, Molly stepped down from the school bus and entered their home, crying. She found the door was locked. There was a note tucked behind a plant. “The keys are under the pot. I will be back soon. See ya! – Dad.”

Molly scowled and recalled her mother telling her about her dad’s ‘odd’ habits in the evenings. She frowned thinking her father was out drinking at four in the afternoon.

Hours passed, but Danny never returned home. Molly cooked herself pasta, leaving some for her dad. Then she lay on her bed crying.

“If only I was normal, I wouldn’t be the odd one out. I would have found a date for the prom.”

It turned out that Molly’s teacher had informed them about their upcoming senior prom. All her classmates had found prom dates except for Molly. Nobody was interested in taking her. She figured—who would want to dance with someone with a limp?

Molly cried so loudly that Danny heard her as soon as he arrived home.

“What happened, darling? Why are you crying?”

Molly told him about the prom. “I don’t have a date. I even asked some boys if one of them would at least dance with me during prom, but they refused and laughed. I don’t want to go to the prom, daddy! I want to be alone! Goodnight!”

Molly turned her back on Danny and pretended to sleep, tears soaking her pillow.

Danny couldn’t just leave his daughter in distress. The next day, he bought Molly a beautiful prom dress. And on prom day, Molly was in for a huge tear-jerking surprise. Her dad was taking her to prom.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

Senior students and their parents were flocking outside the hall when a loud screeching roar of an engine drew their attention.

Danny jumped down from the truck. He put a wheelchair on the lawn and helped Molly get out. He pushed the wheelchair on the red carpet as the gathering watched in amazement.

Danny hit the dance floor with his daughter as the music rolled. He lifted Molly and carried her around in circles, syncing with the melodious musical night. For a moment, Molly forgot that she had a disability and laughed her heart out as her dad kept swaying her in his arms.

“My dad is my real superhero. I love him more than anything else in this world. I feel blessed and proud to say I’m his daughter,” Molly cried to her friends after the dance.

Meanwhile, Danny became the show stealer. All the parents flocked around him to praise and applaud him. Danny then shared a bit about himself and his daughter, knowing little about how that evening would soon change their lives.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

Danny and Molly returned home, talking about the fun they had. Then Danny put Molly to sleep in her bedroom and silently crept out of the house.

It turned out Danny had been working a second job as a caregiver at a local nursing home. Besides his part-time day gig as a truck driver, he worked overtime to save money for his daughter’s treatment. When Molly’s disability was diagnosed years ago, many told Danny and Daisy that she would never be able to walk.

But one doctor had assured them he would treat the girl and restore her ability to walk. So Danny quit partying in pubs with his friends and started working two jobs.

Daisy had misunderstood him and thought he was wasting his time at the pub. Danny tried explaining to her, but she never trusted him. Her constant doubts and heated arguments led to their split shortly after. Danny never bothered because he was only focused on saving money for Molly’s surgery and worked hard for the next several years.

It pained Danny whenever he recalled his past. Even that night, while driving to work, he could not shake his thoughts off the terrible things his ex-wife told him. He finished his shift and returned home, unprepared for the surprise that awaited him and Molly.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

That morning, when he returned home from work, Danny was in for a sweet surprise when he found a package in his mailbox.

“A parcel?? Who sent it?” he wondered. A card on it read: “Dad of the Year!”

Inside, Danny found a check for $10,000 and another note:

“Dear Danny, we hope this will improve your daughter’s life. Good luck with her surgery, and we hope you spend more time with her in the evenings. Best Wishes, Your Prom Buddies!”

Danny realized the parents he’d met the previous night were behind this. He shed tears of joy and shared the good news with Molly.

“Really?! My God, daddy…This is unbelievable!” She laughed and cried on his shoulders.

With the money Danny had saved and the $10,000 check, Molly got her surgery. It was successful, and gradually, she was able to walk without crutches.

Meanwhile, Danny quit his second job to spend more time with his daughter. She earned a scholarship to study architecture in another state and was set to leave in three months.

Danny wanted to make the best use of the available time he had with Molly. He taught her to cook, dance, cycle, and even run. He just wanted his daughter to live a normal life and never look back to the days when she was using a wheelchair and crutches.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

What can we learn from this story?

  • There is no stronger love in the world than a parent’s love. Danny walked the extra mile to help his daughter walk. He worked two jobs to save money for her surgery and even took her to prom when she did not have a date.
  • A father is always a superhero to their children. Even when everybody told Danny his daughter could never walk again, he did not lose hope and worked towards making her walk again. He was her true superhero and inspiration for life.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

A one-handed boy makes broth for his late friend’s sick grandma despite facing difficulties. One day, the older woman returns his kindness in the most unexpected way.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life. 

I Was Shocked When My Wife Gave Birth to a Black Baby – The Reason Changed Everything!

Brent’s life turns upside down when his wife gives birth to a baby with dark skin, causing shock and accusations in the delivery room. As doubt and feelings of betrayal threaten to break their family apart, Brent faces a choice that will test their love and trust forever.

After five years of trying, Stephanie and I were finally going to be parents. Stephanie held my hand tightly as she endured another contraction, but her face was calm and focused.

When the first cry filled the room, I felt a mix of relief, pride, and love all at once. I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath until I let it out in a shaky sigh.

Stephanie reached out, eager to hold our baby, but when the nurse placed the tiny bundle in her arms, the mood shifted.

Stephanie stared at the baby, her face losing color, her eyes wide with shock.

“That’s not my baby,” she gasped, her words catching in her throat. “That’s not my baby!”

I blinked, confused. “What do you mean? Steph, what are you talking about?”

Source: Midjourney

She shook her head as the nurse explained that they hadn’t cut the umbilical cord yet, so this was definitely our baby. Stephanie looked like she wanted to push the baby away.

“Brent, look!” Her voice rose in panic. “She’s… she’s not… I never…”

I looked down at our baby and felt my world tilt. Dark skin, soft curls. It felt like the ground had been pulled out from under me.

“What the hell, Stephanie?” My voice sounded sharp and accusing.

The nurse flinched, and I noticed our families frozen in shock.

Source: Midjourney

“It’s not mine!” Stephanie’s voice broke as she looked at me, tears in her eyes. “It can’t be. I never slept with anyone else. Brent, you must believe me.”

The tension in the room felt heavy, and everyone quietly slipped away, leaving just the three of us. I should’ve stayed, but I couldn’t bear the feeling of betrayal.

“Brent, wait!” Stephanie’s voice called out as I marched toward the door. “Please, don’t leave me. I swear, I’ve never been with anyone else. You’re the only man I’ve ever loved.”

Her honesty made me stop. I turned to her. This was the woman I’d loved for years. Could she really be lying to me now?

“Steph,” I said softly, despite the storm inside me. “This doesn’t make sense. How… how do you explain this?”

“I don’t understand it either, but please, Brent, you have to believe me.”

I looked back at the baby in her arms. The skin and hair were still a shock, but then I saw it: she had my eyes and a dimple on her left cheek, just like me.

Source: Midjourney

I stepped closer and cupped Stephanie’s cheek. “I’m here. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m not leaving you. We’ll figure this out together.”

She collapsed against me, sobbing, and I held my wife and daughter tightly. I’m not sure how long we stayed like that, but eventually, Stephanie began to nod off, exhausted from labor and the stress of the situation.

I gently untangled myself from them and said, “I just need a minute. I’ll be right back.”

Stephanie looked up at me, her eyes puffy and red, and nodded. I knew she was scared I wouldn’t return, but I needed to clear my head.

I stepped out into the hallway, the door clicking softly behind me, and took a deep breath. But it didn’t help. I needed more than just air. I needed answers.

Source: Midjourney

“Brent,” a familiar voice called, cutting through my thoughts.

I looked up to see my mother standing by the window at the end of the hall, arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her face was set in a disapproving line that used to scare me as a kid.

“Mom,” I greeted her, but my voice was flat. I didn’t have the energy for any lecture.

She didn’t waste time. “Brent, you can’t stay with her after this. You saw the baby. That’s not your child. It can’t be.”

“She is my child; I’m sure of it. I—” My voice faltered because I wasn’t entirely sure. That doubt was eating at me.

Source: Midjourney

Mom moved closer, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t be naive, Brent. Stephanie has betrayed you. You need to wake up.”

Her words hit me hard. I wanted to shout at her, to say she was wrong, but I couldn’t. Some part of me whispered that maybe she was right.

“Mom, I… I don’t know,” I admitted, feeling the ground slip away beneath my feet. “I don’t know what to think right now.”

She softened slightly, reaching out to touch my arm. “Brent, you need to leave her. You deserve better than this. She’s clearly not who you thought she was.”

I pulled away from her. “No, you don’t get it. That’s my wife and daughter in there. I can’t just walk away.”

Source: Midjourney

Mom gave me a pitying look. “Brent, sometimes you have to make hard choices for your own good. You deserve the truth.”

I turned away. “Yeah, I do deserve the truth. But I’m not making any decisions until I have it. I’m going to find out what’s going on, and whatever I discover, I’ll deal with it. But until then, I’m not giving up on Stephanie.”

She sighed, clearly unhappy with my answer, but didn’t push further. “Just be careful, Brent. Don’t let your love for her blind you.”

With that, I walked away. I couldn’t stand there and listen to any more doubts. I made my way down to the hospital’s genetics department, every step feeling heavier.

When I reached the office, my heart was pounding, reminding me of what was at stake.

The doctor was calm and explained the DNA test process like it was routine. But for me, it was anything but.

Source: Midjourney

They took my blood and swabbed the inside of my cheek, promising results as soon as possible.

I spent those hours pacing the waiting area, replaying everything in my head. I thought about Stephanie’s desperate look, her need for me to believe her.

And the baby with my eyes and dimples. My heart held onto those details like a lifeline. But my mom’s voice kept telling me I was a fool for not seeing the truth.

Finally, the call came. I could barely hear the doctor’s voice over the roar of blood in my ears. But then the words cut through: “The test confirms that you are the biological father.”

Relief washed over me, followed by guilt so sharp it made me catch my breath. How could I have doubted her? How could I have let suspicion cloud my mind?

But the doctor wasn’t finished.

She explained recessive genes and how traits from generations back could show up in a child. It made sense, but it didn’t erase my shame for not trusting Stephanie.

The truth was clear 

I made my way back to the room, the results in my hand like a lifeline.

Source: Midjourney

When I opened the door, Stephanie looked up, hope shining in her eyes. I crossed the room quickly and handed her the paper.

Her hands trembled as she read, and then she broke down in tears of relief.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. “I’m so sorry I doubted you.”

She shook her head, pulling me close, our daughter nestled between us. “We’ll be okay now,” she said softly.

As I held them both, I made a silent vow: no matter what came our way, I would protect my family. This was my wife and my child, and I would never let doubt or judgment come between us again.

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