Life is fragile. We all know how quickly it can go by.
The moments we live in are soon to be the moments we remember. Everything from the birth of your child, to their graduation. They become memories in the end.
And when you’re facing death, those memories that you make become the most important ones.
Leon Deane was told that he only had months to live. He has pancreatic cancer.
It was already in stage 4 when they found it,” Leon said. “It’s been rough, mentally it’s hard to deal with.”
With the knowledge that his time is running out, Leon has one simple wish: to see his son Ewan graduate high school.
He knows he likely won’t make it to the 2025 high school graduation. Ewan, one of his 3 sons, still has two years left at Jellico High School in Tennessee.
Martha, his wife, had a plan.
She contacted school officials, not letting Leon know. She asked them if there was any way Ewan could have an early graduation ceremony. The teen is being homeschooled at the moment so the family can have more time together.
There was no hesitation. “We’ll do it tomorrow,” school officials said.
For Ewan, it helped him keep his word to his dad. “The promise I made to him was that I would graduate and make something out of myself,” he said.
The school needed just a couple of days to organize the graduation.
“I think the family was a little surprised when I said we’ll do it (the next day),” said principal Joey St. John.
Leon Deane and Ewan Deane. Photo courtesy of Jimmy & Kim Photography
“The student body, upwards of 300 students, will be on hand for Ewan’s honorary graduation ceremony. Ewan will be decked out in cap and gown, and there’ll be pomp and circumstance plus Coach Brent Peel and a few of our teachers will share some thoughts,” said St. John. There’ll also be a program along with an official photographer, according to the principal.
And on Aug. 30th, Leon’s final wish was fulfilled. Family, friends and students filled the auditorium, gathered for a graduation for Ewan.
“Today is the day that the Jellico High School and all the communities that represent our school come together to support a student and family in a solemn season of life,” St. John said during the ceremony.
To be straightforward with everyone in this room, we are gathered here today to honor the wish of a father to see his son, that he dearly loves, complete a milestone in his life.”
St. John told the audience, we pushed “forward in time” and allowed Leon’s “physical body to see today what his heart sees in the future.”
And on that day, Ewan became an honorary graduate of the class of 2025.
Leon said it best. “I’m about as proud as I can be.”
