From The Orange County Register
By Allison Glander / Staff Writer
Dominic Aberl, 16, CHOC patient, and his date, Lisa Lewis, 17, a guest, walk through a hallway to enter the prom event during the 14th annual CHOC Children’s Oncology Prom on Saturday evening.
As 7 p.m. neared, the anticipation in the air was rising. After all, it was prom night and the evening was just beginning.
The doors opened to reveal a huge room draped with red curtains and globe lights strung to a glimmering chandelier. Girls in sparkly dresses and boys in tuxedos sauntered in, laughing, taking selfies and hugging friends. With each step on the red carpet, the smiles widened and excitement grew.
Saturday night was the 14th annual Children’s Oncology Prom put on by Children’s Hospital of Orange County, an event letting teens battling cancer fulfill the dream of attending their high school prom.
About 80 cancer patients ages 14-19 spent the evening with their friends until the prom wrapped up at 11 p.m. Each patient – some currently in treatment, others in remission – was allowed to bring three friends. In keeping with a traditional prom, no parents were allowed.
“Prom is such a beautiful right of passage. Every kid should get the opportunity to go to their prom,” said Jamie Park, a volunteer who spent months planning the evening. Park arranged for celebrities such as Zac Efron and the musicians of Lady Antebellum record videos telling the teenagers to enjoy their prom.
The theme of the event, held in a large conference room decorated by volunteers, was “The Great Gatsby.”
Upon arrival, many of the kids made their first stop at the large spread of candy and frozen yogurt. Other activities included dinner, casino games, dancing, a photo booth and a prize raffle.
Before the prom, CHOC also organized a “primp” event where teens could get their hair and makeup done by professionals. Actress Kristen Bell and TV personality Whitney Port attended the primp event and chatted with the girls. Bell posed for photos while Port was painting nails.
“Cancer treatment is not glamorous by any means,” said Andrea Hanigan, CHOC public relations specialist. “The kids don’t feel like themselves. A lot of kids can’t go to their proms because they are in the hospital or have immune issues, so this is a wonderful opportunity for them.”
Best friends Lauren Aslanian and Christine Ianev, both 16, were attending prom for the second year. They were all smiles as they posed for photos, recreating some of the shots taken a year before. This time around, the two are in a very different place: Last year, both girls didn’t have hair and Ianev was on crutches after a surgery.
Aslanian battled Non-Hodgkin lymphoma for a year, while Ianev battled Ewing’s sarcoma for two. The pair went through chemotherapy together and have grown close. Like many girls their age, they love shopping, going out to eat and gossiping with each other.
“This prom is like coming home, coming back to see my family,” Aslanian said. One day she hopes to work in the health field, but for now is enjoying being a teenage girl.
“Normalcy is underrated,” she said. “Don’t take life for granted.”
Ianev said, “It gets really hard and painful, but you learn to live today like there’s no tomorrow.”
Amber Chavez, special programs coordinator at CHOC said, “I love seeing the faces on the kids when something like this is happening. To know whatever they’ve gone through is worth it in the end makes my work worth it.”
After battling osteosarcoma for a year and a half, Jeniffer Cuaya, 20, was glad to be at the prom, her second. “Last year I didn’t have my prosthetic leg yet, so I couldn’t dance,” she said. “This year, I’m excited to dance more, but I’m also nervous.”
Cuaya brought her brother and cousin along with her date, Diego Alcala, another CHOC patient. Alcala, 20, is being treated for pre B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma and wasn’t able to attend last year. “I really wanted to be here last year. I love prom,” he said.
“Even I was sicker at prom last year,” Cuaya said, “so to look back on how much [Diego and I] have gotten better makes me happy. It’s the best feeling in the world.”
