Lil Girl's Last Wish to Marry Her 7-Year-Old Sweetheart

February 26, 2009

Most parents dream of their daughter's wedding day, but don't expect it to come when their daughter is just nine-years-old. Jayla Cooper, a child in Texas given a death sentence with cancer, recently celebrated her marriage to a fellow patient, Jose Griggs, in front of their family and friends. The two promised to be friends forever.

26 Comments

3 years 22 weeks

@Lickety: I am currently at the NICU at the same hospital as this young boy and his mother. I met her today and we got to speak about her son and the "marriage". He is well aware that it wasn't a real "marriage" and that it was just a vow to her to be her friend forever. He's actually very mature for such a young boy. Going through serious illness like he has has made him wise beyond his years. There is no confusion to him as to what the ceremony meant, and therefore there will be no confusion later in his life stemming from it. Also, he's gotten worse in the past days, so please keep he and his mother in your prayers.

Roarman 4 years 11 weeks

It says he is a fellow patient. From experience, kids who face these illnesses are wise beyond their years and comprehend much more than most adults. This girl will likely never see adulthood to marry and have her special day. I see no harm in allowing her to have her special day and promise eternal friendship to a fellow cancer patient.

sorrowja 4 years 12 weeks

lickety split - I have to agree with you. While it's a bitter sweet event I wouldn't allow my child to do that. I would rather maybe exchange friendship chains and cute pomes with both parents and have ice cream after. But no white dress and people gathering none of that wedding stuff. I won't care if they understood or not marriage fake or real is for adults.

Chrstne 4 years 12 weeks

I agree that seven year olds know what a real marriage is. I also believe 7 year olds in this country know that you just don't get married at seven. I don't think either kids are operating under the presumption that they will actually be married -- and something tells me their parents wouldn't out-right lie to their children and say they were actually getting married. I think it's cute, because she got to wear a dress and promise her friend that they will always be friends. I think the little boy knows she is dying, but might not understand the concept just yet. When I was seven, I certainly knew death was final, and death means someone does not come back. I mourned a loss of a friend, and the loss of my grandparents, but I did move on -- especially since I was so young. This is sweet, and I hope she felt so good on that day...she won't have many more left.

Chrstne 4 years 12 weeks

pinkprincess1101 4 years 12 weeks

how do we not know that this kid does not have cancer as well, and that was his last wish too? i think it was very sad and makes you appreciate what you have.

OhMyDragonflys 4 years 12 weeks

That broke my heart. You know I was reading what Lil wrote about the sets of multiples and how science has come so far...but it hasn't come far enough in the aspect for these children.

OhMyDragonflys 4 years 12 weeks

That broke my heart.You know I was reading what Lil wrote about the sets of multiples and how science has come so far...but it hasn't come far enough in the aspect for these children.

runningesq 4 years 12 weeks

so sweet and so sad.

runningesq 4 years 12 weeks

so sweet and so sad.

jessie 4 years 12 weeks

this video just made me cry. such a celebration of a real friendship...and a memory she can have with her when the time comes. and like caterpillargirl said..he will deal with that forever..when kids go thru illnesses at such a young age..i think it makes them grow up just a bit faster. he will carry a precious memory

nessa17 4 years 12 weeks

That was so sweet but at the same time so sad.

CaterpillarGirl 4 years 12 weeks

Children shouldnt be sheltered from death. I know this personally. This boy , I am positive he doesnt think its a real marriage (7 year olds are smart enough to know this) When she dies, he will be sad and deal with that forever, but its also him living his life without blinders on.

CaterpillarGirl 4 years 12 weeks

POPSUGAR Moms 4 years 12 weeks

The boy is also a patient and the children met at the hospital. It doesn't elaborate on his illness, but the father said that the lil girl lifts his spirits. The video just made me cry. If my daughter or son were sick — I'd give into their wishes if it was to just be "friends forever" with someone.

lickety split 4 years 12 weeks

and the boy knows the difference because????? only the adults understood these aren't traditional marriage vows. why would a child know what real wedding vows are, for him this IS real. look at how many people showed up for this "marriage". our son died at birth, and i have lived what it means to explain to my other children what death means. this is just one day in the life of those adults that attended the ceremony, but it will live FOREVER for that boy. i'm not trying to be ugly, but children are very magical in their thinking, and they build on the biggest events in their life, like the blocks in a tower. this bothers me. if i'm the only person it bothers, so be it.

lickety split 4 years 12 weeks

and the boy knows the difference because????? only the adults understood these aren't traditional marriage vows. why would a child know what real wedding vows are, for him this IS real. look at how many people showed up for this "marriage". our son died at birth, and i have lived what it means to explain to my other children what death means. this is just one day in the life of those adults that attended the ceremony, but it will live FOREVER for that boy.i'm not trying to be ugly, but children are very magical in their thinking, and they build on the biggest events in their life, like the blocks in a tower. this bothers me. if i'm the only person it bothers, so be it.

CaterpillarGirl 4 years 12 weeks

lickety, they didnt get "married" they promised to be "friends forever" if you listen to the "vows" of course they wouldnt let them be married for real!!

lickety split 4 years 12 weeks

i'm sorry the girl is dying, but children don't get married. i would not have allowed my son to marry this girl. now he goes through life as a widower? children don't get abstract concepts like death for many years after the event. not trying to sound offensive, but this isn't healthy for that boy.

Akitkat118 4 years 12 weeks

this was really cute and really sad. I am glad this little girl got her "wedding" even way before her time should have come for that. and it's so sad for the parents but happy they want to do all they can to make her happy.