WARREN, Minn. - Many girls dream about getting dressed up for the prom, but for a Warren senior it was an extra special experience.
“Yeah, it's going to be fun,” said Shayla Miller.
With the hair and makeup done, the shoes sparkling, the corsage in place, all that was left were a few touch ups of the dress, and the photogenic beauty queen would be ready for the local parent paparazzi. That was just the beginning of Shayla Miller's dream evening.
It's a night that was not expected to happen. The 18-year-old was born with cerebral palsy and other disorders, and doctors thought she would never walk or talk.
Two weeks ago, University of North Dakota goalie Zane McIntyre arguably made his last and best save of the season when he asked his number one fan to her senior prom.
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His hands were empty of flowers. Instead, Zane brought some memorabilia to add to her collection.
Shayla didn’t waste too much time taking fancy pictures. All she really needed was a selfie with Zane. A Chevy Camero convertible waited in the driveway.
Later, as Shayla and Zane waited for their formal prom pictures, they just kicked back and caught up with each other’s busy lives.
While there is no prom king or queen in Warren, the town still gave Shayla and Zane a royal escort through the community.
Then it was time for the main event. The Grand March featured 41 couples, and the last couple drew the biggest applause. Zane then lifted his princess off her feet to dance the night away.
Shayla said the best part of the prom was being able to spend it with the person who she refers to as her best friend.
“Hanging out with Zane and having a good time, couldn't get any better than that,” she said.
“This was something really special to do with Shayla, who is a really absolutely incredible person, couldn't have shared it with a better person at all,” said Zane.
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While Zane may have come up short in the quest for a national championship or a few votes shy of the Hobey Baker award, he's a champion regardless, according to Shayla. And her perseverance in life to defy the odds makes her a champion in Zane's eyes - proof that in life a champion is truly defined by a person's character, not a trophy.
