Dad’s dance with wheelchair-bound daughter makes us cry, smile

yahoo ^ | 6/20 | Nadine Kalinauskas

[RummyChick]

Brace yourself. This father-daughter dance is about to do some serious tugging of the heartstrings.

When McKenzie Michelle Carey was 18 months old, she was diagnosed with Mitochondrial disease, a life-threatening illness that damages the cells of the brain, heart, liver, skeletal muscles, and the endocrine and respiratory systems.

There is no known cure.

While she isn't paralyzed, 12-year-old McKenzie can't walk or speak.

"We are her voice and her legs," her mother, Tammy Carey, tells WTVR.

Her disease, while limiting in many ways, doesn't stop McKenzie from performing in pageants.

"Pageants give her the same opportunity as other children," Carey says. "She has won many titles in the past seven years and will continue competing."

A recent dance number with her father, Mike, was captured on camera. When Mike tenderly lifts her in the air to Miley Cyrus' "The Climb," McKenzie breaks into the biggest smile.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=txTdcqDTL9E

[outofsalt]

Thanks for posting! Makes me want to be a better dad!
That little girls smile, when her dad spins her, is beautiful. God Bless them both.

[baddog 219]

I cried a little.... Not ashamed..

[BykrBayb]

I ain’t the tough old broad I thought I was. That was beautiful.

[McGavin999]

What an incredibly loving father. I can hardly see the screen