Jayla Cooper became a 9-year-old-bride because it was her last wish. She has been living with leukemia for two years and is about to lose that fight. Her childhood leukemia is expected to finally claim her life within two weeks. To mark her final weeks on Earth, Jayla became the 9-year-old-bride of a fellow leukemia patient and friend, 7-year-old Jose Griggs. The two children were married over the weekend vowing to be “friends forever.” Unlike Jayla, Jose is on the road to recovery from his leukemia. But doctors are convinced that Jayla is on a different path.
The question becomes should a 9 year old dying girl marry a health 7 year old boy. The answer is no. It goes without saying how sad this story is but I think what we are all forgetting about is that there will be a kid who is scarred for life. The 7 year old boy goes from groom to widower. Should anyone be widowed at the age of 7?! I think not. As much as I want this little girl’s dream wedding to come true, we must first think of how this will affect the little boy. He has to live on. He has to miss his girlfriend/wife every day. He has to go to school and be looked at differently by his friends because they feel sorry for him now. Maybe they feel awkward about speaking with him. Maybe the other kids don’t know how to treat him anymore. Maybe he’ll have nightmares and his future relationships will be affected because of this experience. That’s a lot of pressure to put on the little boy.
It’s nice to grant someone a dying wish, but not when a little boy lacks the maturity to handle the death of his 9 year old wife; Bad job by his parents here. Your first priority of being a parent is to protect your child. Jose’s parents did not protect him from the enormous amount of pain he’ll feel when he walks into his wife’s funeral two weeks from now and sees the little casket with Jayla in it.
That’s How I Roll….
Gaydos
Gaydos,
He is going to miss her regardless. It’s kind of like the movie “My Girl”. He is only seven. He will be fine. I do not believe this will scar him for life. When I was a kid, we played make believe all the time. They are not legally married, having sex and making babies. They are best friends. I don’t think we need to blow this out of proportion. I’m sure he had a choice and he made the decision. No one dragged him up to the alter. He is doing this for her and it is the nicest gesture someone could do for a terminally ill friend. Would you help your friend with their last dying wish… if you really loved and cared for them, you would! It’s a cycle of life. He won’t be scarred, he should feel good about the little guy he is now and I can only imagine, the beautiful person he will be when he is an adult.
I agree, they’re playing make believe - only with nicer clothes.
The boy isn’t going from groom to widower - unless you really consider this a valid marriage. Obviously nobody is saying that is the case. They are having a ceremony that while meaningful for the dying girl, is pretty much just play-acting for anyone else.
He’s going to be sad and miserable when she dies no matter what. Knowing that he helped fulfill his best friend’s dying wish may help him deal with his grief.
Just because you have dating issues Gaydos doesn’t mean every boy out there is doomed. This is said with love and appreciation.
You’re an idiot. Do you really think that the kids are going to have the same feelings as a married couple?
Think of being dead and what you want to do? If you get up tomorrow or not what would you do. Lets these kids have there fun she knew what see wanted and if you knew you had 2 weeks what would you do. hug mac or see elliy and the famliy and the ones you love. I’m not a master of english like mac never planed on going to england. burn! but know i love life and get a kick out of being alive everyday. and its cool to be able to have Gaydos and Mac alive
it is none of our business. we as a nation of people are becoming way to judgemental. if it was wrong, let God be the one to decide. it wasn’t illegal. end of discussion.
When I first read about a 9 yr old getting married I thought “ewe” but then I read the details and YES I would let my son be the groom. I am sure the parents have talked about that she doesn’t have much time left and how that will make him feel, but it’s her final wish and this boy was part of that- and forever he can feel that he was the most special friend in her life- to know he was the one who made her dying wish come true. He will be fine. He will grieve and move on. It’s not like they live together and are husband and wife. The little girl won’t get to grow up. She won’t really have a wedding. This was her chance… her only chance. I think the boy and his parents are selfless for giving her the one chance to have her wedding…what little girls dream of from the time they are able to put a pillow case on their head and walk down their backyard like a bride. This is a touching story and one that I truly am touched by.
It wasn’t even a certified wedding…They vowed to be friends for life. He will probably miss her but I dont think he will be emotionally destroyed because of this. HE IS 7!!!!