A high school student was determined for her terminally ill mother to see her graduate. In the end, she made her mom’s final wish come true!
Elizabeth De Leon, mom to 18-year-old Cassidy, had been diagnosed with colon cancer back in April 2014. Over time, the mom became much worse. There were no guarantees that she’d be able to make it to Cassidy’s graduation on June 21.
So Cassidy’s older brother, Richard Pagan, came up with a brilliant plan. He reached out to Cassidy’s principal at Washingtonville High School in New York, asking him to award Cassidy her diploma down at the hospital where Elizabeth was being treated. Cassidy’s principal, Brian Connolly, happily obliged.
So, on Memorial Day, Cassidy got decked out in her cap and gown, and family and friends met at the hospital to watch the teen receive her diploma. Of course, the proudest one there was her mom! “She was in and out of consciousness throughout her whole hospital stay. Once the graduation happened, her eyes were open and she gave me a small little smile,” Cassidy said to Inside Edition. “It was really emotional. I was happy and very sad.”
Watch the beautiful moment below…
Sadly, Elizabeth passed away the very next morning. However, for Cassidy, she finds peace in knowing that her mom got to see her finish this stage in her life. “All I wanted to do was show my mom that I was going to be okay, and I finished school, and I am going to go to college,” Cassidy revealed. “She was the most amazing woman I will ever know.” So touching!
Imperfectly B 