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Gary Teen To Take His Mother To Prom

GARY, Ind. (WBBM) -- Prom season is underway, and one teenager from Gary, Ind., is bucking tradition by taking his mother as his date.

Roosevelt Academy student Jalon Wiggins, 19, says he is not sure what his friends will say when he shows up Friday with his mother.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Mary Frances Bragiel reports

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"They really don't know. I haven't really told anybody but my cousin, so it's really going to be nice to see them all surprised," Wiggins said.

Wiggins admits he wasn't sure whom to ask, so his mom made a suggestion.

"I jokingly said, 'Well, if you don't have a date, you can take me,' and he said, 'OK,' and I said, 'Are you serious?' and he said, 'Yeah!'" said Wiggins' mother Sylvia Wiggins Willis.

What makes this evening even more special for Ms. Wiggins Willis is that it will be her first prom, ever. Thirty-one years ago, she says she didn't get to attend her big night.

In addition, Jalon miraculously survived an auto accident last year, while she has been awaiting a kidney transplant.

Both say remaining optimistic has kept them going, and Friday will remind each of them of how blessed they are.

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