When 20-year-old Brady Larson realized he’d have to miss his college graduation, his heart sank, but his hospital family had other plans…and you won’t believe the act of kindness they did.
Brady, a South Dakota native and recent graduate of the Mitchell Institute of Technology, was at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota preparing for a life-saving stem cell transplant from his 15-year-old sister, Brooklyn. Diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia, he couldn’t make it to the commencement ceremony. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t get to celebrate.
In a sweet and spirited surprise, Mayo Clinic staff threw together an impromptu graduation right in the hospital hallway.
They transformed a space he once walked down for treatment, into a place full of celebration and love.
“It wasn’t a traditional way to celebrate, but it did make me feel special,” Brady told the Mitchell Daily Republic. “I missed being able to graduate with my friends, but it was really meaningful to me that they did this.”
Decked out in a white lab coat over his grey college sweatshirt, Brady clutched a glittery “Class of 2025” cap with a golden streamer tassel as staff lined the hallway shoulder-to-shoulder, clapping and cheering while “Pomp and Circumstance” played. It was a heartfelt scene that honored both his academic achievements and the bravery of his current journey.
After the celebration, everyone dug into green-frosted cupcakes, a nod to Brady’s school colors. “He hadn’t eaten a lot in the days before, so I was thrilled to see him eat two cupcakes,” said his mom, Roxann.
Brady earned his degree in agricultural business, and although his graduation didn’t look like he imagined, it turned out to be just as unforgettable.
The moment served as a reminder that joy, love, and community can bloom even in the most unexpected places, like a hospital hallway, turned into a stage for a very special graduate.
