Change of plans

Audra did not have the bone marrow biopsy yesterday.  They were unable to get her on the schedule until today at 2:00. As it turns out, this was a blessing in disguise!

Yesterday was the CHOP Prom. And because Audra was not recovering from sedation for the biopsy she was able to go!

In the afternoon the Child Life therapist took her to get ready. There was a room with racks and racks of dresses and suits in every size. I found two pretty dresses in her size and let her choose which one she wanted.

Then she was off to the hair and make-up station.  They braided the front of her hair down along the right side. Then they curled it with the curling iron and pinned it up in an up-do. The finishing touch was sprinkling her hair with glitter!

There was an accessories table where she could choose from necklaces, bracelets and earrings.  I am sure she had never experience anything like this before...never been so pampered and fussed over.  

 

She looked sooo beautiful!!!

(her face is not puffy anymore and the blush and lipstick hid her paleness)

The prom started at 5:30 with the red carpet ceremony. All the kids entered through a balloon archway and walked along the red carpet lined with "paparazzi" (hospital staff and volunteers) who ohhed and ahhed and fused over each and every child.  The cafeteria seating area was transformed into "A Night Under the Stars".  It really did look just like a high school prom!  The DJ's announced the arrival of each VIP (patient). There was food galore and even a picture taking station. The music played and the dance floor was full of beautiful children and IV poles.  Endless hats, boas and light-up wands & glasses were passed out to all attendees.  The floored was covered in feathers from the boas of dancing children.

There were children towing IV poles, oxygen and chest tubes, in wheelchairs, attached to ventilators, with feeding tubes taped to their faces, port needles peeking out from beneath their dresses. And every single child had a smile on their face! If even for only a couple hours, this prom gave them the opportunity to escape their reality and forget about all the medicine, treatments, therapies, procedures and surgeries that await them.

This was the 7th annual prom at CHOP and even though I have seen it many times before, I have never seen it from this side...as a parent, there with my child, benefiting from the overwhelming generosity of the Joshua Kahn Foundation.