Prom is a special time for every teenager. For Hannah Rye, a 15-year-old girl with terminal cancer, the night was extra special and meaningful. Her favorite Rugby player, Trent Hodkinson, was her prom date.
The teen described the day as ‘one of the most magical nights I’ve ever had.’ In an interview with 7 News, she said that she ‘loved every second of it, it was amazing.’
Hodkinson, who was described by Hannah’s mother as a ‘knight in shining armor’, came to pick her up at her house. They rode in a car together and attended the formal event where they posed for photographs and cut a cake.
Hannah was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma cancer. Last year, Hodkinson met her at John Hunter Children’s Hospital through his Tren7’s Kick for Kids program.
Through this program, the rugby player donates his tee of the match to a child in a hospital, and that time it was Hannah’s turn.
‘He’s the sweetest man, and we love him,’ Hannah’s mom, Racheal, told the Newcastle Knights, ‘She’ll never get another moment like this and it’s pretty special.’
Hannah was told by her hospital that her cancer has reached ‘incurable’ levels. Her family has since vowed to make her last moments unforgettable.
Her school, Kurri Kurri High School, joined in with the family. They moved the date of the graduate’s Year 10 formal so she could attend.
When Hodkinson heard about Hannah’s diagnosis, he immediately took action. ‘She’s so brave,’ he told local media, ‘She’s such a strong girl, you wouldn’t know she was going through this.’
The family was unsure whether or not Hannah would be able to make it due to the pain, but Hannah said ‘she wasn’t going to miss the excitement and joy’ of the night.
The rugby player says he wasn’t expecting this amount of international publicity, but that he hopes his actions can bring awareness to Ewing Sarcoma and how it affects families.
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