SPRINGFIELD, MO. — Years ago, Zeph Boand promised Sarah Jones he'd dance with her at prom.

On a recent Friday, he traveled eight hours for that dance.

Prom had to come early for Sarah, a 12-year-old who is starting hospice.

Zeph, family, friends and complete strangers came together to organize a bash for a girl they say is a blessing.

Like any proper prom, it featured a disco ball, deejay, rhinestone shoes and ruffled dresses.

Bowls of live goldfish symbolized something Zeph said: "Of all the fish in the sea, I chose you to dance with me."

At the end of the night, Zeph, dressed in a tuxedo, lifted Sarah out of her wheelchair and, as he cradled her in his arms, they danced to Lee Ann Womack's "I Hope You Dance."

Sandra Fuller, Sarah's mom, gushed with gratefulness to those who made this a reality.

"I want to tell these people thank you. They have been a blessing," Fuller said.

Businesses stepped up to provide a venue, flowers, food and hair styling.

Sarah was born 15 weeks premature and with cerebral palsy. She had a twin sister who died shortly after birth.

Sarah has struggled with health problems all her life, including scoliosis, arthritis, dislocated hips and numerous surgeries. Three months ago, doctors discovered she has a chronic lung disorder.

"She'll say, 'Mama, my body don't work.' And I say, 'I know, but when you get to heaven, you will have a whole new complete body. You won't have to worry about your hips hurting,'" Fuller said.

Life with Sarah has been an inspiration.

"She can wake up ... and her breathing is not real good, her hips are out of socket, her back is not real good, but that kid always has a smile on her face," Fuller said. "She has shown me in times of struggles like this, everything will turn out OK."

Sarah has been out of school for three years and had round-the-clock in-home nursing care for two. You'd never know she was sick from her personality, said Zeph.

"She is always saying something funny, making people laugh. Once she knows she has made someone laugh, she keeps going," he said.

Susan Raper, a special education teacher, has worked with Sarah for six years. Raper said Sarah has a mischievous side and a great sense of humor. She is also incredibly social.

"Just real eager to make friends and be around people. She loves being around people," Raper said.

Sarah's older sister, Shyanne, said she looks up to her baby sister. It wasn't always that way.

When Shyanne was younger, she was embarrassed to have a special-needs sister. One day in Wal-Mart, Sandra kept asking Shyanne to push Sarah's wheelchair, but Shyanne didn't want to. A stranger noticed, walked up to Shyanne and said: "Don't be embarrassed, be grateful."

It was a moment that changed her life.

Sarah has "taught me not to look down on people," Shyanne said. "She made me the person I am today."

The night before her prom, Sarah couldn't sleep because she was so excited.

"I kept saying you have a big day tomorrow, you have to get some sleep," said Sherry Davis, one of Sarah's in-home nurses.

Purple, her favorite color, was the theme. A big purple and white cake read: "We love you Sarah."

Zeph Boand and his mom decorated her wheelchair with purple and pink chiffon, gold ribbon and a purple boa.

When the song "YMCA" came on, the dance floor was crowded and Sarah bopped her head back and forth and laughed with joy.