Decked out in dresses, tiaras, ties and boutonnieres, 46 teens with medically complex conditions had the opportunity to experience a coming-of-age tradition: prom.
It’s an event that teens with medically complex conditions often miss out on, said Pat Tursi, CEO at Elizabeth Seton Children’s Center in Yonkers, N.Y. The center aims to right that wrong and hosted its 10th annual prom earlier this month to treat their patients with an event they deserve.
“Our prom event resets the clock, so to speak, and allows these teens and their families to experience the joy and fun for this moment in time,” Tursi said. “It is a magical and powerful day where disabilities and diagnoses are forgotten.”
The prom also offers an opportunity for “parents to be parents, not caregivers,” and creates memories with their kids that otherwise wouldn’t be possible, Tursi added.
Patients’ conditions at the center vary greatly, from cerebral palsy and congenital heart defects to genetic and neuromuscular disorders. Children at the center receive 24/7 care and support as well as special educational services and creative art therapies.
Once a patient at the center turns 22, though, they no longer qualify for pediatric care under state regulations and have limited options for future care. Nearly all of the patients are on Medicaid. The center is exploring solutions to the issue like opening a new location that will offer the same services for adults up to the age of 35.
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