Her brother was diagnosed with a terminal immunodeficiency disease as a child.
In a touching moment on her wedding day, a Texas bride danced with her terminally ill brother.
Cesiah Aviles-Nieto, 21, tied the knot this past week in Laredo, and during the big day, she wanted to make sure she got a chance to dance with her brother, 17-year-old Alex Aviles, who has ataxia telangiectasia (AT), a terminal immunodeficiency disease.
Although Alex has limited use of his legs, Cesiah wanted to make it happen.
Usually teens with AT do not live past their teenage years and on top of that, Alex was diagnosed with leukemia at just 3 years old, but he has beat the cancer and is now a junior in high school.
“Me and him are super close. He’s my best friend,” Cesiah said. “Since I got engaged, he said, ‘Cesiah, I don’t know how I’m gonna do it, but I’m gonna dance with you.’”
Cesiah asked her brother to be the best man at her wedding as well. Alex, who uses a wheelchair, met with a therapist who helped the pair craft the dance.
On the big day, the pair danced together in a room full of cheers and tears, and Cesiah picked up her brother for some of the dance as well.
“We practiced a little bit, incorporating the wheelchair, but when it came to the wedding day, I forgot everything,” Cesiah said. “I blanked out so I was just like, ‘You know what? I’m gonna carry him.’ So I carried him.”
Alex even stood up on his own during the dance to “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts and the entire room was in shock.
“I heard everyone screaming and clapping,” she said. “It meant the world. I think I’m going to remember as much as I remember saying 'I do.'”
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