PAULDING COUNTY, Ga — A Paulding County family is overwhelmed by a family video that is a social media sensation with 4 million views on YouTube.
Channel 2’s Linda Stouffer found out how a simple show of love resonated big time on the Internet.
The video shows Mike Carey guiding his daughter McKenzie out on stage at a pageant.
It takes just a second for the pageant crowd to realize: He’s her arms and legs.
The 12-year-old’s body is trapped because of a condition called mitochondrial disease and her dad’s choreography is all heart.
“When I was dancing with her and all of a sudden the crowd went crazy, I was like (he makes his eyes big). Luckily the crowd didn’t see my face. I had my back turned around, I was like, ‘Oh my God.’” Mike Carey said.
McKenzie’s parents told Stouffer that they were warned their little girl wouldn’t live past 5-years-old. For them, dressing up for pageants started as a way to have fun.
McKenzie has been in pageants since she was five and has more than 100 trophies in her room. Her brother posted the dance on YouTube just for their family.
McKenzie’s mother hopes people can see her daughter’s smile.
“I think she was sent here to inspire people and she was sent here for us, to help us through some things, so, she’s an angel,” Tammey Carey said.
“Whatever we've got left, I’m going to use for her and help her out. I don’t care if it’s hopping on one leg while I’m doing the two-step, doing the one step. I’ll be doing whatever I can to get the joy she get’s,” Mike said.
The family has a website where you can learn more about helping McKenzie.
See the full performance below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txTdcqDTL9E
WSBTV
