A girl who lived in poverty for years saved up for her dream prom dress but sold it to help her friend. Seventeen years later, she received an unexpected surprise—a fortune from someone she hadn’t seen in years.

Sienna Powell, a 16-year-old raised by her single mother Lisa, always avoided burdening her mom, who struggled to make ends meet as a bank cashier. Sienna worked part-time and saved every spare dollar in a tin can to buy a custom red satin dress for prom.

She finally had enough money to buy the $2,000 gown just weeks before prom. Overjoyed, she admired herself in the mirror, ready for her big night. But just as she was about to leave, her best friend Aaron called in tears—his mother needed urgent surgery.

Without hesitation, Sienna sold her dress online, raising $4,200—more than twice its original price—and gave the money to Aaron for his mother’s treatment. Aaron’s mom, Elsie, recovered and opened a small bakery, which soon became a successful business with multiple branches.

Years later, Sienna and Aaron lost touch, but on Sienna’s 33rd birthday, she received a letter from Elsie. Now retired, Elsie wrote that she had left half of her bakery’s assets to Sienna as a thank-you for her kindness.

“You gave up a special moment in your life to save mine,” Elsie wrote. “You’ve always been like a daughter to me.”

Sienna was overwhelmed to learn she was now a millionaire and that the letter had reunited her with Elsie and Aaron after years apart.