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Dying Girl's Last Wish - A Wedding
Filed under: In The News, Amazing Kids
Every little girl dreams about her wedding day, complete with visions of a big beautiful white dress and, of course, the perfect man. But 9-year-old Jayla Cooper doesn't have a lifetime to wait for Mr. Right. The Southlake, TX, girl has been battling leukemia for two years, a battle that could end in just a matter of weeks.
But what Jayla does have is a groom. He's her best friend, Jose Griggs, a fellow patient at Children's Medical Center in Dallas. "He is very cute," Jayla giggled, "And I love him."
Jayla and Jose recently tied the knot to fulfill her final wish: Getting married in a beautiful wedding, surrounded by family and friends.
"Will you take Jose to be your friend, forever and ever?" the pastor asked a tiara-topped Jayla.
"I will," she replied.
"We didn't expect to do this when she was nine years old," said Lisa Cooper, Jayla's mom. "But she has taught us all how to love each other and to be strong." The children aren't legally married, of course. In fact, the ceremony itself celebrated their intent -- to always be friends, no matter what.
"Of course I was shocked to find out that her big request would be a wedding, but it was, so that is what she got," Tina Kirkpatrick, a planner with the catering hall, Paradise Cove, told ParentDish. Jayla organized it all, from the colors, menu (chicken enchiladas), cake and song for the father-daughter dance -- "It's Your Love" by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. "She's already on morphine but I have never seen her look so good. She was shimmering."
Photography, catering and all the other services for the wedding were donated. Jayla's father, Jerry Cooper, is on family leave from work. If you would like to make donations to help the family, go to GRACE.
But what Jayla does have is a groom. He's her best friend, Jose Griggs, a fellow patient at Children's Medical Center in Dallas. "He is very cute," Jayla giggled, "And I love him."
Jayla and Jose recently tied the knot to fulfill her final wish: Getting married in a beautiful wedding, surrounded by family and friends.
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9-Year-Old Girl Fulfills Her Final Wish
Nine-year-old Jayla Cooper, who suffers from late-stage leukemia, married her best friend in a celebration of life and friendship. "We didn't expect to do this when she was nine years old, but she has taught us all how to love each other and to be strong," said Lisa Cooper, Jayla's mother.
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Photograph courtesy of Livermore Photography
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"Will you take Jose to be your friend, forever and ever?" the pastor asked a tiara-topped Jayla.
"I will," she replied.
"We didn't expect to do this when she was nine years old," said Lisa Cooper, Jayla's mom. "But she has taught us all how to love each other and to be strong." The children aren't legally married, of course. In fact, the ceremony itself celebrated their intent -- to always be friends, no matter what. "Of course I was shocked to find out that her big request would be a wedding, but it was, so that is what she got," Tina Kirkpatrick, a planner with the catering hall, Paradise Cove, told ParentDish. Jayla organized it all, from the colors, menu (chicken enchiladas), cake and song for the father-daughter dance -- "It's Your Love" by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. "She's already on morphine but I have never seen her look so good. She was shimmering."
Photography, catering and all the other services for the wedding were donated. Jayla's father, Jerry Cooper, is on family leave from work. If you would like to make donations to help the family, go to GRACE.
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ReaderComments (Page 5 of 15)
2-24-2009 @ 4:51PM
Pattie said...I am crying my eyes out reading this article. This extraordinary wish for a dying child is so pure and sweet. This child wanted everything a young girl dreams of, getting married, having children and living a good life. This article even made my young girls cry. I think they will think twice before complaining about what they can't have. Jayla will not have the things young girls dream of but she will have what every good person will eventually have, everlasing love and peace with God our Father in His kingdom. God bless you sweet Jayla and Jose and may God comfort your families and keep the beautiful memories of you in their hearts. This is truely a precious moment.
Reply
2-28-2009 @ 9:50PM
tyler said...this is as amazing as it gets because it took a nine year girl to show that love still exists in a world of aggresion and violence. As for gary if you cant say somthing that is meaningful then shutup oh and those cures they arent a garentee i know because i lost my grandfather to cancer. so leave the ones who have somthing meaning ful to say alone
and jayla if your reading this congratulations in the wedding
Reply
2-24-2009 @ 4:49PM
bill said...While it tickles the heart to see something like this happen, it also just breaks your heart to see what is happing to this beautiful young lady, may god watch over her.....
Reply
2-24-2009 @ 4:52PM
shykiss3 said...my sympathy goes out to all the families that posted comments whom have lost their loved ones, their children to cancer. Hopefully one day we will find a cure to this deadly disease. When i was a teenager I lost a cousin who was 17 yrs old to a rare cancer. He was my world and He was so down to earth and full of life. I remember before he died he always got on me about passing math because i was horrible at math. Well for him, i worked hard and i passed math and did whatever it took to make him happy when i was a kid. It's sad when we lose those we love , but we have those precious memories to keep us going and when i think about my cousin i think about the good times and how he would want me to be happy. Peace, love, and most of all GOD BLESS.
Reply
2-24-2009 @ 4:56PM
Anne Marie said...God Bless both of you and your families. Somebody once gave me this poem when my daughters best friend passed away she was like another daughter. I hope this will help you:
GOD’S GARDEN
GOD LOOKED AROUND HIS GARDEN
AND FOUND AN EMPTY PLACE.
HE THEN LOOKED DOWN UPON THE EARTH,
AND SAW YOUR TIRED FACE.
HE PUT HIS ARMS AROUND YOU
AND LIFTED YOU TO REST.
GOD’S GARDEN MUST BE BEAUTIFUL
HE ALWAYS TAKES THE BEST.
HE KNEW YOU WERE IN PAIN.
HE KNEW THAT YOU WOULD NEVER
GET WELL ON EARTH AGAIN.
HE SAW THE ROAD WAS GETTING ROUGH,
AND THE HILLS WERE HARD TO CLIMB.
SO HE CLOSED YOUR WEARY EYELIDS,
AND WHISPERED “PEACE BE THINE”.
IT BROKE OUR HEARTS TO LOSE YOU,
BUT YOU DIDN’T GO ALONE
FOR PART OF US WENT WITH YOU
THE DAY GOD CALLED YOU HOME
God Bless
Reply
2-24-2009 @ 5:25PM
Andrea said...what a beautiful poem!
3-01-2009 @ 5:43PM
KIM said...Anne Marie,
The poem is beautiful... There is one key line When GOD calls you home. The doctors can say one thing, but the decision is from god alone. It's seems that the poem however beautiful is premature. We have already buried this sweet little girl. I was born with a disease that left me minus portions of several vital organs, the doctors did surgery after surgery to fix me, but decided that there was nothing else they could do for me and at the last surgery, they did not close me because they thought that I would get infection. but to make along story short, they gave me to my mom in that hospital room she sat with me in that rocking chair to rock me one last time as she thought(I have the pictures today) and I have happy to say that the grace of GOD, I am 41 years old today. My first surgery was the day I was born, they gave up on me @ around a month old. I am still Here. This was in 1967 when medicine was not as advanced. So what I am saying, although a very nice poem. TRUST IN GOD, and HE HAS THE ULTIMATE LAST WORD NOT THE DOCTORS. In these responses, we should be gathering together and praying for GOD'sHEALING POWERS, (I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES)
2-24-2009 @ 4:57PM
donna said...First off,I think it's beautiful that they could fulfill their daughters wish. May they all be blessed through this very difficult time.
Gary and Rhonda-----applause to you both...You have to understand that most people believe that medical doctors area GODS....................Yes, there is a place for conventional medicine,like if your arm or leg is cut off---no alternative cure will help that -we know that!! But mainstream society is "brainwashed" about drugs---just watch TV for 15 min. at night and tell me how many drug commercials there are on.The funniest thing I love about them -are when they tell you the "side effects" They are funnier than the best comedians around......The side effects are WORSE than the condition you already have---SOMEONE TELL ME ANY DIFFERENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway,there are alot of great alternative treatments for cancer and other diseases-people just have to educate themselves and SEE that conventional medicine isn't the ONLY answer....
But I know----WE are the ones who are brainwashed---
Chemo and Radiation are Horrendous....And by the way,what is one of the causes for cancer?? Oh,too much radiation--I see now.Makes alot of sense....Just keeping going EVERY YEAR and get those mammograms that DIRECTLY put radiation in the breast--at one point-one of those visits--GUESS WHAT????? They'll find something......
Sorry if I hurt anyones feelings-but this is really the truth.
And to the doctors and nurses--I know you really care for the patients well being and are very dedicated men and women BUT you were taught in the medical model ONLY and that's ONLY what you know...My husband is also a doctor--but one that thinks OUTSIDE the box!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply
2-24-2009 @ 8:11PM
Candy said...I know my comment isn't relevant to the story but it is to your comments. My husband had triple bypass surgery in 1999. Prior to the surgery his cholesterol was 399. He was 49. After his surgery, his cholesterol went down We became instant vegans, with me juicing, combining our food/proteins properly, no salt in his diet and the lovely red yeast from China. Six months later, we had his cholesterol checked and it was 287 - mind you, no animal products, all alternative methods of care - could have killed him.
3-01-2009 @ 7:50PM
GLynnem said...My husband is also a doctor and thinks OUTSIDE THE BOX. I have to say radiation and chemo saved my mother in law's life from breast cancer.
2-24-2009 @ 5:09PM
Scott said...With all the bad going on now, these stories are GREAT! Wonderful job parents!
Reply
2-24-2009 @ 5:11PM
pat kendall said...i am very touched by this its such a wonderful thing to do god bless the two of them and may they meet in a much better place , i lost my little girl in nov 26 2008 god please bless our children with all your love in heaven . we will never know why god takes people we love most. but i think its a good reason , they were chosen to be at the hand of our maker , most of us know him .
Reply
2-24-2009 @ 5:49PM
Cindy said...Pat I lost my son, in Dec 07, 14 months ago though he was 21 and it was tragic to be able to make this little girl happy and to be there to see it, is wonderfull, my heart goes out to the parents as I know the what lies ahead for them I truly can feel for them................
2-24-2009 @ 5:20PM
Len said...This gave me a lump in the thoat! "My God, heal this loving heart! God, we ask you to please, with your mercyful heart, remove the illness from this little girl who possess the love of heart we all need in our lifes." Amen
Reply
2-24-2009 @ 5:18PM
Carolyn Bond said...My child hood, was affected by the death of Lizzie. Lizzie was my friend and she had Leukemia and died as a result. Lizzie was so sweet and beautiful. When I saw how small, she became, before dying... That image stayed in my mind. What a beautiful article. Sad, but powerful, in terms of love and dignity.
Reply
2-24-2009 @ 5:21PM
alphama333 said...I really loved reading this story. I don't care how young she was. It was her final wish and I'm glad all those who participated in making her wish come true. My b/f's son pasted away 3 yrs. ago from Lukemia. He was 20. He'd been battling it for a couple yrs. So, my blessings are for the young couple. I toast a glass of milk your way.
Reply
2-24-2009 @ 5:29PM
forkuu said...after hearing so much hate for the octomom and her innocent babies i read this and i was touched . children are gifts lets cherish them regardless of circumstances hooray beautiful bride weel done
god bless you and your groom God has you in his hands.
Reply
2-24-2009 @ 5:35PM
Kim Boggess said...This is the most inspiring story I have read in along time and just to hold back the tears was hard. For someone so young to endure so much and still have hope and love to share. Their parents are blessed with wonderful kids and I am sure they have touched so many hearts. May God be with them and our prayers r with them. The Angels in this story already have their wings God Bless
Reply
2-24-2009 @ 5:38PM
Angel of Muzick said...God bless these families. I am glad that this brave little girl got her dream "wedding," and I'm SO glad that there was a little boy mature and loving enough to vow to be her "friend forever and ever." Honestly, it's one of the most beautiful stories I've ever heard. I wish these families and children peace, support, and as little pain as possible. The love shown by these families and their friends is absolutely incredible. I am just sorry that their time together has been cut so short. Good thoughts and prayers sent out to all of those involved.
Reply
2-24-2009 @ 9:31PM
TAMMY PRUITT said...yes it is so sad to let our children ,and grandchildren go but my mother wrote a poem for her great grandson 2 years ago he also died from cancer .Our father who is in heaven please take care of my grandson for he is so young to have to leave this world behind and parents,brother,and all of his loved one and jesus replied i need my children to come nd play with me on my marry-go-round up in heave where is no more pain and no more sickness just have all of the joy and happiness and walk on my street of gold and never go old and play forever
MAY GOD BLESS TO YOU AND FAMILY
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