Tebow has a special "date"
While Tim Tebow didn't win any awards on this night, the Florida Gator star quarterback became a real-life "Prince Charming" at Walt Disney World, bringing a little extra company, 20-year-old Kelly Faughnan from Clifton, Va., as his "date."
Just before Thanksgiving last year, Kelly was diagnosed with a brain tumor, her father, Jim said. Kelly's tumor was successfully removed at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore a couple of weeks later. "Surgery was performed on December 15, and we returned home on Christmas Eve," Jim told FOX 35.
On the morning of Kelly's surgery, sister Katie suggested to Kelly that "she could ask mom and dad for anything right now," because they would likely agree to anything. Her wish was to go to Disney World during the awards show to get a glimpse of Tebow. Jim said, "it would likely be impossible to see Tim Tebow, much less meet him."
Kelly finally had a chance to meet Tebow on Wednesday night. Tebow said it was then when he decided to bring her along to the show. "I was really touched," Tebow told the Associated Press.
"We talked about his football career and we talked about life in general. He's such a good influence in what he says and what he is," said Kelly in an interview with FOX 35.
Kelly has been a big fan of Tim's since he began his football career at Florida. "I became a Gators fan when my cousin started law school at the University of Florida and became a Tim Tebow fan right then," she added.
"Kelly cannot believe that she not only got to see Tim, but she got to meet him, and that he spent so much time with her," Jim said. "He truly is making a great impact on many people's lives, and I can say first hand on Kelly's life."
At age 12, she developed an unexplained tremor. "We were hoping and praying the removal of the brain tumor would get rid of her tremor but it did not," Jim explained. "We are extremely blessed that the tumor was benign and successfully removed."
Kelly said she was pretty shocked by the opportunity to be Tim's date, "but I feel very blessed and very honored that he asked me. It's a dream come true," she said.
