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. 

My Dad Kicked Me Out for Marrying a Poor Man – He Cried When He Saw Me After 3 Years

“If you go through with this, you’re no longer my daughter.” Those were the last words my father said to me three years ago, before slamming the door on our relationship. I thought I’d never hear from him again—until his black car pulled into my driveway.

I didn’t plan for life to turn out this way. If you had told me three years ago that I’d be sitting here writing this, estranged from the man who raised me, I’d have laughed in your face. Back then, my world was simple. Or so I thought.

Young woman in deep thoughts | Source: Midjourney

Young woman in deep thoughts | Source: Midjourney

It all started with two pink lines. Two tiny lines that changed my life forever. I was 25, working as a junior architect in the city, and in love with Lucas, a soft-spoken carpenter from a small village just outside of town.

Lucas wasn’t the type to sweep you off your feet with grand gestures. His charm was quieter—thoughtful notes tucked into my lunch, the way he remembered every little thing I said, the warmth in his eyes when he looked at me. He was my peace in a world of chaos. And I was sure my dad would hate him.

I wasn’t wrong.

A happy young couple | Source: Midjourney

A happy young couple | Source: Midjourney

When I told my dad I was pregnant and wanted to marry Lucas, I could feel my heart pounding like it wanted to escape.

For a moment, the world seemed to stop. My father, a tall, imposing man with silver hair and sharp, calculating eyes, just stared at me. No shouting, no slammed doors. Just a long, heavy silence. His expression was unreadable, which somehow made it worse.

Wealthy man seated in his living room | Source: Midjourney

Wealthy man seated in his living room | Source: Midjourney

Finally, he spoke, his voice calm but colder than I’d ever heard. “If you go through with this, you’re no longer my daughter.”

I blinked, unsure if I’d heard him correctly. “What? Dad, you don’t mean that—”

“I do.” His words were like ice. “You’re making a mistake, Lily. That boy has nothing to offer you. No money, no future. You’re throwing your life away.”

“He’s not ‘that boy.’” My voice cracked, but I pressed on. “Lucas is kind. He’s hardworking. He loves me, Dad. Isn’t that enough?”

Father and daughter having a serious conversation | Source: Midjourney

Father and daughter having a serious conversation | Source: Midjourney

My father’s gaze hardened. “Love doesn’t pay bills. It doesn’t secure a legacy. I raised you better than this.”

I felt the sting of tears but refused to cry. “You raised me to stand up for myself. To fight for what matters. Lucas and I are starting a family, Dad. I wish you could see that.”

He didn’t respond. Instead, he turned, walked to his office, and shut the door. That was it. No goodbye. No “I’ll miss you.” Just silence.

That night, I packed my things, left the house that had been my home since I was born, and moved in with Lucas. As for my dad, he cut all ties.

Woman leaving her home | Source: Midjourney

Woman leaving her home | Source: Midjourney

For months, anger consumed me. How could he? How could my father, the man who used to tuck me in every night and braid my hair before school, abandon me just because I fell in love with someone he deemed unworthy?

I cried myself to sleep more times than I can count, but life didn’t wait for me to heal. Life with Lucas demanded every ounce of strength I had.

His tiny house felt like a shoebox, especially once my belly began to swell. “I know it’s not much,” Lucas would say, his voice laced with guilt. “But we’ll make it work.”

Struggling couple inside their modest home | Source: Midjourney

Struggling couple inside their modest home | Source: Midjourney

And we tried. He took on every job he could find, from fixing fences to building kitchen cabinets. I did what I could, though being pregnant with twins—or so we thought—left me exhausted most days.

When the twins turned out to be triplets, I nearly fainted in the delivery room. Lucas looked equally terrified but managed to whisper, “Guess we’re overachievers.”

Newborn triplets | Source: Midjourney

Newborn triplets | Source: Midjourney

Sleepless nights became our norm. We shared every fear—how we’d afford diapers if the electricity would stay on if we were failing as parents. There were fights, too, born out of exhaustion and stress, but Lucas never wavered. He’d rock one baby while soothing another and still manage to kiss my forehead.

Slowly, things shifted. Lucas’ skill with carpentry caught the eye of a local business owner who commissioned a massive project. Word spread, and soon, we couldn’t keep up with the orders.

A young male carpenter working | Source: Midjourney

A young male carpenter working | Source: Midjourney

I started managing the books and finances. By the time the triplets were two, our once-shoebox life had transformed. We bought a modest home, and a secondhand car, and for the first time, I felt like we were breathing.

Then came the call.

Close up of a smartphone | Source: Pexels

Close up of a smartphone | Source: Pexels

“Lily,” my father’s voice cut through the static. It was sharper than I remembered. “I hear you have children now.”

My throat tightened. “Yes. Three of them.”

“I’ll be there tomorrow,” he said flatly. “You and the children deserve a better life. I’m giving you one chance to come back. If you say no… this is goodbye for good.”

When I hung up the phone, I felt a mix of dread and anticipation. My father was coming. The man who had turned his back on me, who hadn’t so much as called in three years, was suddenly inserting himself into my life. Why now?

Woman on phone | Source: Midjourney

Woman on phone | Source: Midjourney

The next morning, his sleek black car pulled into our gravel driveway, looking out of place against the backdrop of our modest home. He stepped out wearing a tailored suit, the kind I used to see him wear when I was little. The sight of him brought a lump to my throat, but I swallowed it down. This wasn’t the time for weakness.

“Dad,” I said, forcing a polite tone as I opened the door.

“Lily,” he replied, his voice as formal as ever. No warmth, no acknowledgment of the years lost.

Lucas appeared at my side, his hand resting lightly on my back, a silent show of support. My father’s eyes flicked to him, barely pausing before shifting to the house behind us.

Senior man paying her daughter and husband a visit | Source: Midjourney

Senior man paying her daughter and husband a visit | Source: Midjourney

“May I come in?” he asked, though it was more of a statement than a question.

I stepped aside, letting him walk through the door. He moved slowly, inspecting everything as though he were a judge on some reality show. His gaze lingered on the hardwood floors Lucas had installed, the family photos lining the walls, and the corner where the triplets’ toys were neatly stacked. His face was unreadable, but his silence was deafening.

Then he turned to me, shaking his head. “Oh, no! What have you done?” His voice cracked, his despair unmistakable. “You’re not struggling!”

Dad paying his daughter a visit | Source: Midjourney

Dad paying his daughter a visit | Source: Midjourney

I blinked, caught off guard. “No, we’re not,” I replied, my tone steady. “We’ve built a good life here.”

He stared at me, his jaw tightening. “You could’ve had more. You still can. Come with me, Lily. Bring the children. I can give them opportunities you’ll never be able to.”

Lucas’ hand tensed on my back, but I held my ground. “They already have everything they need. Love, stability, and parents who worked hard to build a home for them. We don’t need anything else.”

My father’s face hardened. “You’ll regret this,” he said coldly. But there was something else there too—pain.

Man and his daughter having a conversation | Source: Midjourney

Man and his daughter having a conversation | Source: Midjourney

My father’s face darkened as my words hung in the air. Without another word, he turned on his heel and stormed out. I stood frozen, watching him march to his car. He yanked the door open and sank into the driver’s seat, slamming it shut.

I waited for the engine to roar to life, for him to peel out of the driveway and disappear again. But the car didn’t move. Minutes passed, then an hour, and then another. From the window, I could see him through the windshield, his head in his hands. He wasn’t angry. He looked… broken.

Sad senior man in deep thoughts | Source: Midjourney

Sad senior man in deep thoughts | Source: Midjourney

“What’s he doing?” Lucas asked softly, standing beside me with one of the triplets perched on his hip.

“I don’t know,” I whispered.

The sun dipped lower, casting a golden glow over the yard. Finally, after three long hours, my father stepped out of the car. He moved slowly, his shoulders slumped in a way I’d never seen before. When he reached the door, he hesitated, his hand hovering over the wood before finally knocking.

I opened the door to a man who looked nothing like the father I’d grown up with. His face was streaked with tears, his eyes red and raw.

Father and daughter having an emotional conversation | Source: Midjourney

Father and daughter having an emotional conversation | Source: Midjourney

“I was wrong,” he said, his voice trembling. “I thought I was protecting you, but all I did was push you away.”

I swallowed hard, my own tears threatening to spill. “Dad…”

“I thought you were throwing your life away,” he continued, his voice breaking. “But I was blind. You’ve built something beautiful, something I should have been proud of from the start.”

And then he broke. The man who had always seemed larger than life crumbled before me, sobbing in a way I’d never imagined. Without thinking, I reached for him, pulling him into a hug.

“I missed you,” I whispered.

Senior man hugging his daughter | Source: Midjourney

Senior man hugging his daughter | Source: Midjourney

For the first time in years, we talked. Really talked. He apologized—over and over—for his pride, his mistakes, the years we’d lost. And I forgave him.

As the triplets toddled in, giggling and curious, he knelt down, his eyes wide with wonder. “Hi there,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.

“Grandpa?” one of them asked, and he nodded, tears falling freely.

“Yes,” he choked out, smiling through the sobs. “Grandpa’s here now.”

Senior man hugging bonding with his grandchildren | Source: Midjourney

Senior man hugging bonding with his grandchildren | Source: Midjourney

Loved this story? You won’t want to miss this one: My Dad Had Dozens of Affairs, Thinking Our Mom Would Never Leave Him – What She Did to Him Stunned Everyone.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided as “is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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