Jaguars’ Sen’Derrick Marks Takes Teen Cancer Patient To Prom
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ Sen’Derrick Marks has been out of high school for a decade, but that didn’t stop him from being the prom date for a Florida teenager with cancer, the New York Daily News is reporting.
Eighteen-year-old Khameyea Jennings was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2013. The high school student was faced with spending prom night in a hospital room until Dreams Come True — a charity that helps children with life-threatening illnesses live out their dreams – got into contact with Marks.
Last week, Sen’Derrick showed up at the teen’s hospital room, carrying a bouquet of roses, for one of the most touching “promposals” of all time.
“I talked with your mom, she said it’s OK, and I heard you have prom this weekend, and I wanted to know if I could take you to prom?”
She said, “Yes.”
On Saturday, Marks showed up at the teen’s home, driving his Lamborghini, Marks in a white and gold tux, which he wore at his prom date’s request, to match her own white and gold gown.
Khameyea Jennings made quite the entrance into her prom. @senmarks drove her there in his lambo. pic.twitter.com/DQ09LvdGEs
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) May 3, 2015
The two drove to the site of the prom — the Jacksonville Zoo — and as the six-foot-two, 300 pound NFL player pushed a shy 18-year-old in her wheelchair to the entrance to the prom, the crowd of prom-goers erupted into applause.
Even though the teen can’t stand for very long, and the NFL player is recovering from knee injuries, Marks promised that the two would have a good time, even if it meant Marks would have to dance through the pain for both of them.
“We’re going to cut that dance floor up all night.”
Khameyea, who admits that she’s no sports fan, had nothing but good things to say about her prom date, according to the Florida Times-Union.
“I know nothing about sports, but I like him.”
Unfortunately, the teen cancer patient’s prom date with Sen’Derrick Marks may very well be her last date: the American Cancer Society says that the five-year survival rate for patients with liver cancer is only 15 percent.
Khameyea’s mother, Laquandra Jennings, says that, cancer or no, her daughter deserves the chance to be a teenager, even if for only one night.
“She said this is a day to be normal, not to have to worry about needles, chemo, potassium levels. Just a day to be a teenager and enjoy the prom.”
[Image courtesy of: Twitter]
