A group of teenagers with chronic illnesses and special medical needs had the chance to attend a prom of their own on Saturday.
Nemours Children’s Health hosted the “Out of This World” prom for the teens at their children’s hospital in Orlando.
Before the event, the prom-goers had the chance to have their hair and makeup done by professional stylists.
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“Look at me, I feel so cute,” said Harmony Taylor. “I’m very, very, very excited to be here.”
Taylor suffers from cyclic vomiting syndrome, a condition that causes sudden, repeated and severe episodes of vomiting and nausea.
“I might not get this chance again so I’m going to really soak it all in and make this like a regular old prom,” Taylor said. “It makes everyone feel heard and included maybe they can’t go to their own so I just think this is a really good idea.”
The hospital rolled out the red carpet for the medically inclusive event so that the teens would have the chance to attend the rite of passage.
“The event aims to provide an environment that is more conducive for teen patients who, because of their chronic illnesses and complex health situations, are not able to attend a traditional school prom,” a news release read in part.
Gloria Leyva, a child life specialist, said this is the first prom the hospital has hosted since 2018
“It is so refreshing after watching the kids walk the red carpet seeing them all dressed up their hair their make-up, they look beautiful. Men in their suits, so handsome,” Leyva said. “I want them to feel like rock stars. I want them to feel like the most important person in the world.”
Officials said the prom was supported by Five Below, Addition Financial, Opera Orlando, Florida Space Institute, BASE Camp Children’s Cancer Foundation, Aveda Salon and Grove Salon.
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