Violet Kuntz, 18, of Vacaville missed her high school prom because she was hospitalized. Samantha Gilroy of Danville, also 18, had to cut her prom short because she was in too much pain.
The Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center’s recent Starry Night-themed event was a chance for both teens to experience prom and bond with others who might have missed theirs because of a medical issue. The event attracted about 50 patients and their guests from all over the East Bay and beyond.
Gilroy was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis 6 years ago.
“This is my shot at going again, and I’m feeling good about it,” said Gilroy, who brought her sister and best friend. “I’m having fun just getting dressed up and feeling pretty.”
It was the first such prom at Oakland Medical Center since 2019 when the COVID-19 pandemic put an end to the yearly event. The party is for pediatric patients who are living with various chronic conditions, such as sickle cell disease or cancer.
The whole point of the prom is so kids feel less isolated, said Melissa Faucher, director of pediatric subspecialties at the Oakland Medical Center.
“Teens often feel alone, especially if they have a chronic condition,” said Faucher. “Here they realize they are not alone. They realize they can still have fun.”
The event included about 1,000 silver, gold, and white balloons, professional hair, nails, and makeup provided by volunteers, a dance floor, photo booth, hundreds of dresses, suits, and jewelry to choose from and keep, a DJ, and Golden State Warriors dancers to help prime the party pump.
“I can’t get the time back from my first prom, so I’m making up for it now,” said Kuntz, who lives with type 1 diabetes and ulcerative colitis. She picked out a long flowy velvet dress and earrings from the donated bounty.
Kuntz made fast friends with Alyssa Vasquez, 17, of Manteca, who also lives with ulcerative colitis. The two had their hair and makeup done and took pictures together in a photo booth.
“It’s been fun getting all dolled up,” said Vasquez, who selected a purple dress with ruffles to match the colored accents in her hair. “And it’s great to meet people who have gone through the same experiences I have.”
Dante Green, senior vice president of Kaiser Permanente in the East Bay, said the event is creating a healthy experience.
“These kinds of experiences are extremely important for their development, and they allow us to show them we care,” Green said. “When you see the smiles on their faces you understand this is so worth it and impactful. It’s a reminder of what is important in life.”
About 15 Kaiser Permanente staff members spent 6 months planning the event that included 70 volunteers working the day of the prom.
Matt Ouimet, 14, of Antioch, enjoyed being in the same room with people his age who faced similar medical challenges. He had liver and kidney transplants when he was 2. He had a second kidney transplant when he was 11.
On this night, he donned a coat and tie and put on some eyeliner. Then he went to the 360-degree video booth.
“It’s so fun,” said Ouimet. “I feel welcome here. People so selflessly and kindly shared their time to make this happen.”
Elissa Harrington contributed to this story.
