High school senior Joe Moreno went to his prom last Friday night, but instead of taking a classmate to the dance, he brought a special guest: his mother.
Moreno’s mom, Vanessa, gave birth to her son when she was just 17. Being a teen mother, she was forced to leave high school in order to raise him and never got the chance to go to her senior prom. Moreno, who lives in Corpus Christi, Texas, has always been aware of the hardships his mother dealt with, and so to honor her sheer love for him, he decided to take her to prom.
Moreno told KCRA that he decided to take his mom to prom as soon as he found out what prom was and asked the school’s administration for permission. Normally, students avoid bringing dates over 21 due to concerns about alcohol consumption, but the high school made an exception in Moreno’s case.
My mom had me at the age of 17 she dropped out of high school to focus on giving me her all. Last night I gave her the prom night she never had. pic.twitter.com/obsGzYxX8K
— Joe Angel⁶𓅓 (@joeamoreno8) April 14, 2018
Some additional photos pic.twitter.com/ERQuET5CLH
— Joe Angel⁶𓅓 (@joeamoreno8) April 14, 2018
Had the time best night of my life
— Joe Angel⁶𓅓 (@joeamoreno8) April 14, 2018
Suffice to say, Moreno and his mom have since gone viral as this year’s most adorable prom couple, with Twitter users praising him for being such a thoughtful son.
https://twitter.com/iconic_jordd/status/985576599142715393
This is the sweetest thing ever. Your mom did a beautiful job raising you to be a gentleman. ❤️
— sarah (@sarahruns303) April 16, 2018
Bless your heart omg ❤️😫 pic.twitter.com/sN4VuLHEFo
— Kelsey Glenn 🤍🦙 (@SnelseyGlenn) April 15, 2018
@joeamoreno8 I thought you and your mom were super sweet at the prom. Felt the need to sketch you guys!.<3 #art #prom #joeamoreno8 #sosweet :D pic.twitter.com/9VzagfByMO
— Sweathands (@Sweathands_art) April 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/miguelcbedoya/status/985379458696798208
Twitter users are trying to help Moreno get recognized nationally, too, with fans tagging everyone from Ellen DeGeneres to Good Morning America. Moreno is particularly hoping Drake notices him.
I honestly would cry if @Drake noticed me
— Joe Angel⁶𓅓 (@joeamoreno8) April 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/JoeisaacH/status/985583440966930434
https://twitter.com/NoodlesAlvarado/status/985583327091576832
https://twitter.com/JoeisaacH/status/985586764105633792
Like Drake meant you he will say “God Plans” pic.twitter.com/kcCj9h5LH2
— Lawrence | (@VessmanZ) April 15, 2018
Moreno called prom “the best night of my life,” and Vanessa felt absolutely touched by her son’s gesture. The night was incredibly emotional for her, she said, particularly when the two danced, as she realized that her son was set to attend Texas A&M University in the fall to study oncology.
“If I could tell 17-year-old myself one thing it would be to never give up because God will always find a way, and to stay strong through everything,” Vanessa Moreno told KCRA.
