The hospital’s Grand Hall transformed into a glamorous prom venue, welcoming dozens of teens who are not letting their illnesses stop them from living their lives to the fullest.
Sixteen-year-old Hailey Fondeur has been looking forward to getting all dolled up for prom night. For the teen who has been battling Leukemia since 2022, the event was a chance to set aside the burden of her illness and savor the moment surrounded by love, laughter, and friendship.
“I feel that there’s part of me back again,” Fondeur said. “There’s some normal back in my life after a year and a half.”
Stilt walkers towered above the crowd while mascots dressed as donuts boogied down on the dance floor. The venue was decked out in pink and orange decor — the signature colors of Dunkin’ Donuts. The vibrant party was made possible through a generous grant from the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, which has a goal of providing teens facing health challenges a sense of normalcy.
“Our teens …. are going through a lot that no teen should have to go through, so giving them those milestones that every teen has experienced is really giving them back a little piece of their life and making them realize that they’re still teens and deserve all the things that teens get,” said Child Life Specialist Katie Roche who works at Montefiore.
