A dad fighting cancer was able to gather enough strength to escort his daughter to her school’s homecoming in a heartwarming moment.
Carrie Yancey watched as her husband of 25 years, Brett, escorted their daughter 50 yards to accept her crown in Alabama on Friday.
The proud mum stood in the bleachers and cried looking down onto the football field to watch the halftime homecoming ceremony.
Her daughter, Sara Kate, beamed with pride in her beautiful pink dress, arm-in-arm with her dad, who was determined to make it across the field.
Speaking about her beloved husband, Carrie said: “We were high school sweethearts at Glencoe High School. In fact, we started dating in the seventh grade.”
Brett and Carrie Yancey have been married for 25 happy years and share three daughters together but over the last six years, they have faced life-changing difficulties.
The dad of three was diagnosed with esophageal cancer six years ago but just last week, he was told the disease had spread to his lungs.
He has been receiving treatment including radiation, chemo, and experimental treatments since finding out he had the deadly cancer.
Yet, in the midst of the difficulties, Brett had the date September 29, 2023, circled on his calendar – his daughter’s Southside homecoming.
“We told Brett that we would take him to meet Sara Kate on a golf cart,” Carrie said. “Brett has been very feeble – he carries oxygen with him – we were wondering if he could make it from the visitor’s sideline across the field to the home sideline.”
“I don’t need a golf cart – I’m going to walk my baby to the opposite sideline,” Brett told his wife.
But at halftime on the visitor’s sideline, he stood arm-and-arm with his youngest, determined to make the 50-yard walk.
Daughters Savanna, a nurse, and Sydney, a Bama student, were also there to watch their sister and dad during the heartfelt moment.
“Brett has fought so hard,” Carrie said. “He’s a true warrior. The news we received at yesterday’s doctor’s visit was not good, but we are staying strong. We’re consulting with doctors to come up with our next course of action.”
Forty-seven-year-old Brett Yancey – a local legend – walked the walk, slowly shuffling, while trying to stand tall.
“There wasn’t a dry eye in the house,” Carrie said about the forever moment. “Sara Kate was crowned homecoming queen, and in a way, it gave my husband a burst of energy,” she added.
There’s no telling how long Brett Yancey will be with us. It could be a week, a month, a year, or five decades. “We’re taking it day by day,” Carrie said. “I just know that my family has been blessed.”
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