Touching moment a newlywed groom brought a room to tears by dropping to his knees to dance face-to-face with his wheelchair-bound mother at his wedding 

  • A video shows Luke Rheault, 33, dancing with his late mother Rebekah at his wedding in November, 2008, to Mariah Carey's Hero
  • Rebekah, who suffered from ALS, died less than a year later aged 56
  • The video was posted to YouTube in 2015 by Luke's wife Kristeena, who described the dance as 'the most touching moment I have ever witnessed' 

It had been just a year since his mother was diagnosed with ALS, a condition that left her wheelchair-bound, but on his wedding day, one groom made sure that she didn't miss a single thing.

In a recently-surfaced video, Luke Rheault, 33, from Fitchburg, Massachusetts, is seen at his 2008 wedding bringing all his guests to tears while dancing with his mother Rebekah to Mariah Carey's hit Hero. Now, nearly six years since ALS took her life, Luke's wife Kristeena, also 33, has posted the moment online for the world to share.

'This was probably the most touching moment I have ever witnessed,' wrote Luke's bride Kristeena on the YouTube video, which she posted in March. 'When my husband danced with his mother there was not a dry eye in the house. She was suffering from ALS so she had to use a wheelchair. So happy Luke got to have this moment before she passed away.'

Sweet moment: A recently-surfaced video shows Luke Rheault, now 33, dancing with his ALS-stricken mother Rebekah at his wedding in 2008, less than a year before she passed away

Sweet moment: A recently-surfaced video shows Luke Rheault, now 33, dancing with his ALS-stricken mother Rebekah at his wedding in 2008, less than a year before she passed away

On the level: After first leading her to the dance floor, Luke dropped to his knees to give his mother a kiss
On the level: After first leading her to the dance floor, Luke dropped to his knees to give his mother a kiss

On the level: After first leading her to the dance floor, Luke dropped to his knees to give his mother a kiss

The video was taken in a hall at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, where the wedding took place – just a few miles away from where the married couple now lives. 

Although Rebekah had only been diagnosed with ALS - a condition which damages the brain and spinal chord resulting in progressive paralysis - she was already confined to a wheelchair by the time her son's November wedding rolled around.

As the mother and son duo first took to the dance floor in the video, Luke gripped his mother's hand and led her around the floor. But then, in an incredibly heartwarming gesture, he dropped to his knees, smiling at Rebekah and kissing her tenderly on her head.

'I remember feeling uncomfortable standing above her for the first few moments of the dance - it just didn't feel normal, and that's when I got down on my knees and danced with her,' Luke explained to The Huffington Post. 'I had no idea of the impact it had on everyone until they had told me.'  

All eyes on her: Luke's gesture brought the entire wedding party to a standstill - and to tears

All eyes on her: Luke's gesture brought the entire wedding party to a standstill - and to tears

Proud son: Throughout the dance, Luke smiled, kissed and whispered in the ear of his mother, who had only been diagnosed with ALS the year before

Proud son: Throughout the dance, Luke smiled, kissed and whispered in the ear of his mother, who had only been diagnosed with ALS the year before

Overcome: Rebekah became emotional during the dance, but her newly wed son comforted her

Overcome: Rebekah became emotional during the dance, but her newly wed son comforted her

Not a dry eye: The tender moment left all involved overcome, including bride Kristeena who called the dance 'the most touching moment I have ever witnessed'

Not a dry eye: The tender moment left all involved overcome, including bride Kristeena who called the dance 'the most touching moment I have ever witnessed'

After kneeling down, the groom pulled his mother around the room, grinning broadly and whispering in her ear, as the proud mother, wearing a shimmering gown, broke down into tears.

He may have just been doing what had 'felt right at the time', but as Luke spun her around and smiled with her, the wedding guests all welled up over the touching moment, including Luke's daughter from a previous relationship, Arianna, and his father John. 

'There was not a dry eye in the house, everyone was so touched by the dance,' said Kristeena. 'The tears started as soon as Luke dropped down to his knees to dance with her.'  

Memories: Rebekah succumbed to ALS less than a year after sharing the dance with her son in September 2009, at 56 years old

Memories: Rebekah succumbed to ALS less than a year after sharing the dance with her son in September 2009, at 56 years old

Beautiful family: Luke with his mother and his father John (R)

Beautiful family: Luke with his mother and his father John (R)

Bringing it back: Luke's wife Kristeena (R) posted the video of the dance back in March, and it has since been viewed over 10 million times

Bringing it back: Luke's wife Kristeena (R) posted the video of the dance back in March, and it has since been viewed over 10 million times

Less than a year later, Rebekah passed away from ALS in September 2009, and Luke had never even watched the video. That is, until earlier this year. 

Back in March, Luke's wife dug the video out once more and posted it to YouTube, where it not only eventually racked up an incredible 10 million views to date, but also brought back a flood of memories for Luke. 

'I found myself reliving all that this woman did for me — everything that she embodied as a mother and everything she taught me to be,' he said. 'I tell it to everyone: "It's a void that can never be filled."' 

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