Pediatric Prom 2012!

May 31, 2012 Graydon and I went to prom!!  MSKCC each year holds a "Pediatric Prom" where patients and families can get dressed up, dance, and party the day away.  It was really an amazing event. 

For two weeks leading up to Prom the playroom was turned into "Promingdales" (Prom + Bloomingdales).  There were racks and racks of formal dresses where patients and families could "shop" and pick out a dress.  Some of the dresses where brand new, others had been worn once and donated.  Cool thing is, once you pick a dress, it's yours forever!  It was fun picking through things.

Graydon was so excited.  It was so cute and tender to see him get so anxious and excited to go to "the dance party with mommy."  We got our clothes about two weeks before Prom and he had to get dressed up several times to practice our dance.

The dance was in the morning and they had a feast to eat from.  We were some of the first to get there and we danced it up for about an hour.  It was in the cafeteria of the hospital.  Case was being grumpy in his hospital room, so it was just G and mommy.  Graydon wanted to be a "king" and I was his "princess," hence the tiara I am sporting!



Graydon jumping on the dance floor before the big crowds joined in.

As I sat and watched for a bit I realized the strong dichotomy taking place before me.  The families and patients were having a BLAST at the dance.  Everyone just kind of let loose and relaxed while boogying to the awesome music.  Some cute little girls were dancing like crazy on a stage for about an hour.  Then on the other side I just felt like the situation was so tragic, and I found myself wiping away tears!  It was sad that something so "easy" and "small" meant so much to so many people.  It is one of the few fun things that ever occurs in an oncology hospital.  I am just thankful for so many volunteers who made it happen!  Again, people are GOOD!