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LYMAN, Wyo. — As her young daughters were preparing to go to their daddy-daughter dance, Melanie Henderson was unprepared for a welcome surprise.
In a YouTube video posted Saturday, Melanie Henderson was caught unaware when her own father — who has lived overseas for about 11 years — showed up on her doorstep for the dance.
Melanie Henderson’s husband, Robert Henderson told KSL.com he came up with the plan, and his father-in-law flew for more than 30 hours from Qatar for the surprise.
When the doorbell rang, Melanie Henderson thought it was her daughter’s uncle on the other side of the door, but when she saw her own father’s face, the reaction was priceless. Her initial reaction of shock soon turned to happiness, and she hugged her dad, who was dressed in a tuxedo and was holding flowers.
Through tears, she says it is the best surprise ever, and Robert Henderson says it was a very hard secret to keep.
The Hendersons don’t see Melanie’s father very often. He works in the oil and gas industry, according to Robert Henderson.
“He also has done a lot of humanitarian work with his wife and children and a lot for the LDS Church in Africa, and most recently helping in the refugee relief efforts,” Robert Henderson said in an email. “It's hard to have them live so far away, but they do so much good.”