Laughter and chatter echoed through UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland’s halls from the Teen Lounge as kids got in their “yap sessions” while stylists applied blush and mascara.
The room looked and felt like any other salon in the hours before prom – makeup tumbled across countertops, sparkly dresses hung over chairs, and the ROSÉ and Bruno Mars’ song “APT.” played in the background. But this place was different. The teens selecting their gowns, nail polish, and hair tinsel were also patients, and the prom itself was inside the Oakland hospital.
Amidst the flurry of Gen Z slang like “bet,” “lit,” and “Ohio,” Ava DuBose said the word of the night for her was “normal.” DuBose, who just turned 16 a week ago, was diagnosed at 15 with a functional neurological disease.
“I have been looking forward to this night for months,” said DuBose, who has been adjusting to online high school after her diagnosis. “It means so much to just be with friends who understand my health condition and feel normal.”
A Monte Carlo flair
Staff and volunteers at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals in both San Francisco and Oakland turned conference rooms and cafeterias into mini casinos with a Monte Carlo flair, complete with ice sculptures and photo booths where prom goers could get all the selfie angles with sparkly props.
The theme of each year’s prom is chosen by the hospitals’ Youth Advisory Council, which includes current and former patients. Daniel Linhardt, a cancer survivor and council member, said the event dealt the perfect hand of creativity and teenage fun.
“We thought about what might be fun as a theme and give a little escape,” said Linhardt. “Like, for the raffle prizes, we thought people might like to have things to do when they are in the hospital, like Xbox and Switch.”
The night’s festivities included mini casino activities with a Monte Carlo theme. Photo by Raymond Ibale
Volunteers and rofessional makeup artists helped teens perfect their evening looks before the event. Photo by Raymond Ibale
Photo by Tom Seawell
Photo by Raymond Ibale
Photo ops helped create keepsakes of the night for the attendees. Photo by Tom Seawell
Photo by Tom Seawell
Facility dog Arnie also wore his evening best at the prom event in UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, Oakland. Photo by Raymond Ibale
None of the chic “drip,” or outfits, that make prom special would have been possible without community support. Days before the big night, volunteer fashion enthusiasts helped each teen find their perfect fit in donated suits, dresses, and accessories. Later, as the prom hour approached, professional makeup artists and hairstylists gave their time to support the teens for their glow up.
“Working with this generation of kids gives you a little brightness about humanity,” said makeup artist Brandy Esparza. “Kids today have so much empathy that they communicate through respect for other people and themselves. They radiate this pure joy that gives you hope for the next generation.”
The proms are meant to be a reminder that the teens are more than their diagnosis. For a few lucky hours, dazzling lights, Brat music, and celebrations at the card table replaced the hum of hospital machinery. Some kids took selfies with volunteers dressed up as the Superbowl ad DunKings, courtesy of prom sponsor Dunkin’, others streamed their dance routines.
“This is where kids light up. In their own shoes, clothes, and living it up on the dance floor as teenagers not patients,” said Rose Tandeta, a child life specialist. “You hear these stories from parents saying that their child is not normally like this as they deal with their health struggles in the hospital. When I see my patients dancing with a smile, I really get to see their true selves.”
With the final curtain call, balloons rained down and the teens laughed, hugged, and swapped Snapchats. “Tomorrow, I’m back to more medical tests. But tonight,” said Ava with a grin, “I get to be a normal teen.”
About UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals
UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals are among the nation’s leading pediatric specialty hospitals, according to U.S. News & World Report 2023-24 rankings. Their expertise covers virtually all pediatric conditions, including cancer, heart disease, neurological disorders, pulmonology, diabetes and endocrinology, as well as the care of critically ill newborns. The two campuses in San Francisco and Oakland are known for basic and clinical research, and for translating research into interventions for treating and preventing pediatric disease. They are part of UCSF Health, whose adult hospital ranks among the top medical centers nationwide and serves as the teaching hospital for the University of California, San Francisco, a national leader in biomedical research and graduate-level health/sciences education. Visit https://www.ucsfhealth.org.