When Leon Deane was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, one of his biggest regrets was that he wouldn’t live to see his youngest son, Ewan, graduate high school. Doctors had given the man only months to live, and the teenager was still in his junior year at Jellico High School in Tennessee. However, Ewan had already made a vow to his father — one that he intended to keep. Thankfully, his school was willing to help.
“The promise I made to him was that I’d graduate, and I’d make something out of myself,” Ewan said, according to News 4 San Antonio.
So, Jellico High School arranged for an early graduation ceremony that Leon would be able to attend. Although the event was put together quickly, it couldn’t have been more meaningful to the student and his family. Leon described his feelings as “extremely excited, happy, grateful.”
“We just talked about some things I’d like to get done before this journey is over and him graduating was one of them,” said the father, who added that his son had made him “about as proud as I can be.”
A difficult season of grieving and goodbyes awaits Leon and his family, but Ewan’s early graduation has given them a special moment to hold onto. It meant the world to both father and son that they were able to share this important milestone together.
Ewan describes his dad as “a loving man who always took care of me and my brothers and just a great guy with a big heart.”
“I love you, Dad, I love you and that’s it,” he added.
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