St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital provided patients and families with out-of-this-world fun during its space-themed prom, held in partnership with the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation. The hospital hosts prom night each year for its teenage patients who are unable to attend their own dances, and for younger patients who, due to chronic or life-threatening conditions, may never get the opportunity.
The outer space adventure took place in the hospital’s Medical Arts Building on Saturday, April 20, and featured a glam station, arcade games, prom swag bags, dinner and lots of dancing on a LED interactive dance floor.
The hospital’s Child Life team, with support from the St. Joseph's Children's Hospital Foundation, organizes milestone events like the prom to provide patients with experiences that they might not otherwise have due to treatments and hospitalization.
“Going to prom is an experience everyone should have, no matter the circumstances, and our team works diligently to create a memorable night for the patients and their families,” said St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Certified Child Life Specialist Jessica Nolte. “It’s so rewarding to create an evening for kids to just be kids and to watch them laugh, play and dance amongst one another.”
One of the patients who danced the night away was 7-year-old Chase, who was diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth and Pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia three years ago.
“It was so nice to forget about everything medical for one night,” said his mother, Alisha Harper. “Chase had the time of his life at prom, and it filled my heart to see him having fun and being happy again.”
To see highlights from St. Joseph's Children's Hospital's prom, visit the hospital's Facebook
here.