Going through middle school and high school years can be tough. That’s why having true friends during that time is so important.
Finding that kind of friendship didn’t come easily for a girl named Ciera.
Ciera started her life like an average child. But she had a seizure in third grade that left her with brain damage and a permanent cognitive level of a third grader. After that, it was harder for Ciera to make real friends.
“The other children still loved her, but didn’t understand why she didn’t develop and mature like they did. We soon found the invites to stay the night ceased and the birthday party invitations stopped coming. My heart and spirit were broken,” Ciera’s mom Carissa wrote in a post for Love What Matters.
“Although she was still always SO HAPPY, she was still alone. She didn’t have that one friend she could rely on. I often cried myself to sleep and worried excessively. Next thing I knew, high school was on the horizon and I was terrified she was going into it all alone. Little did I know – there was a plan in store for her.”
Ciera was put into a permanent special needs classroom in high school. This is where she would meet her forever friend.
A boy named Connor who had Down syndrome.
“This is where she met the most handsome young man who rocked his extra chromosome! When she walked into their classroom, she was looking for a friend,” Carissa recalls. “He swooped in and saved her from living life alone, to being a part of togetherness and love. Down syndrome had nothing on Connor, and he quickly latched onto Ciera and the friendship grew fast and feverishly!”
The two became fast friends and would constantly FaceTime, eat lunch together, and meet on Sundays for ice cream. Carissa’s prayers had been answered.
She saw her daughter begin to “flourish” as a result of her newfound friendship.
“He is constantly complimenting her, checking in on her to make sure everyone was being kind, and when she is sick, he worries obsessively over her,” Carissa explains. “To make things even better, Connor brought along his group of friends… all boys of course!”
And the boys love her just as much as Connor does. They even fight over who gets to sit next to her and get mad if someone isn’t nice to her.
Carrisa says that the love that her daughter is shown by the group is all thanks to Connor.
“Ciera truly is the ‘rock’ of their group. She keeps them in line, makes sure they are being well-behaved and always nurtures their every need. She was kind of their missing link,” Carissa explains. “Last year, right before prom, we discovered Ciera’s spine was twisting and needed scoliosis surgery quickly. Prom was out of the question for her. She was devastated but we had no choice.”
Thankfully, Connor came to her rescue. He brought her a basket of her favorite things the day before her surgery and played games with her so she wouldn’t be stressed.
“Ciera’s boys” were so worried about her during her surgery that their teacher said they weren’t getting any work done.
“As she healed, they would FaceTime her and shed a few tears when they saw she wasn’t up to her normal, happy self,” Carissa said. “All the while, she would constantly reassure them she was OK and to not worry about her because she would be back soon! The love these kids have for each other is out of this world.”
Since Ciera missed her prom last year, her family and friends made sure to make this year’s prom extra special.
And Ciera, of course, went to the prom with her main man… Connor.
“When picture time came, you could just see the sparkle in Connor’s eyes. He. Was. SMITTEN! Ciera looked beautiful and he was equally as dapper. He made sure to open the door for her and made sure she got in the car carefully without messing up her dress,” Carissa recalled. ” The florist did an amazing job making sure the boutonniere and corsage where created so they could easily put it on each other without mom’s help.”
Ciera and Connor were the life of the party. They danced the whole night through and didn’t stop smiling.
The senior girls were texting Carissa to tell her how much fun they were having with Ciera and Connor.
Connor, being the gentleman that he is, made sure to walk Ciera to her door at the end of the night.
“To know the love of a special needs individual is to know the true meaning of pure love. They hug you so hard it sinks into your soul. They laugh and enjoy life so much that it forces you to embrace the moment,” Carissa said. “Connor and Ciera are the epitome of ‘Love is patient, love is kind,’ and this world needs more of this. I hope your prom was as amazing as theirs!”
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