The Prom Date of This Girl With Down Syndrome Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity

Ben Moser and Mary Lapkowicz have been friends since they were in the same class in second grade, and the fact that Mary had Down syndrome was never a big deal. In fact, in fourth grade, Ben promised that he'd ask her to prom one day. This past week, that day came, and Ben — now a popular high school quarterback — kept his word.

"A lot of grade-school-aged kids may have stayed away from my sister Mary or thought she was weird because she has Down syndrome," Mary's brother wrote on Facebook [1]. "But not Ben. He always looked out for her, always made sure to pick her on his team at recess."

Although they went to different Pennsylvania-area high schools, they reunited when their schools played each other in football — in fact, she was the equipment manager for her team — and Ben was reminded of his promise. He orchestrated a promposal [2] back in March, and last Friday, he took Mary to her prom. But not before friends and family could gather for pictures. Their fourth-grade teacher, Tracey Spogli, even came to wish them well.

Despite all the well-wishers, perhaps no one was as touched as Ben's mom, Lisa Troutman Moser.

"Today was probably the proudest I have ever been of my son in his lifetime to date," she wrote on her Facebook page [3]. "He has accomplished many things on the football field, on the baseball field, in the classroom, and just in his life. He has grown into a man with a big heart, a deep sense of putting others first, and most of all making people feel special and loved. Today with joyful tears in my eyes and down my face I watched a promise made, seven years ago, to a beautiful girl fulfilled."

We hope it was a magical night for both of them!