Two years before her wedding, Ali Kilman experienced a serious car accident. Despite surviving with minor injuries, she lost her ability to talk. To communicate with her loved ones, Ali began learning American Sign Language.
On her wedding day, her legendary dad Al Jones delivered a touching speech unlike any other. Instead of speaking, he signed the lyrics of Heartland’s country song, “I Loved Her First”, which expresses a father’s bittersweet feelings as he watches his daughter start a new chapter in her life.
The emotional moment brought tears to Ali’s eyes and was captured on video by Andrew Stevens from Always Hope Creative. Since 2019, the heartwarming video has gained over 4 millions of views on YouTube, along with countless heartfelt comments.
Before Al Jones began his sign language performance, he took a minute to remember what happened to his beloved daughter. He recalled the difficult time when Ali was injured, her jaws “wired shut, with tubes down her throat.” His tone changed when he told his daughter, “I’ve been practicing my sign language, Ali,” as he handed her the original whiteboard she used to communicate after the accident.
Then, he took center stage as Heartland’s emotional country song started playing. As soon as Al Jones started signing in ASL to the intro music, Ali Kilman couldn’t hold back her tears. This special performance melted the hearts of millions of viewers around the world.
Al and Ali’s touching video hits hard with kids raised by deaf parents and parents who’ve raised deaf or mute children. It’s a powerful reminder of the universal bond between parents and their children, regardless of communication methods.