Hospital makes teen's prom dream a reality

A 16-year-old who has been in hospital since February was able to attend her prom thanks to the medical staff treating her.

Ellie, from Dorchester, had a kidney transplant in 2022 but has been in Southampton Children's Hospital for more than four months after the organ began to fail.

The teen was too sick to take her GCSEs but managed to make it to prom with the support of hospital staff.

Her mother Jody said: "I don't know if we can ever express just how much we appreciate the effort everybody made to ensure this went ahead."

Ellie was first diagnosed with glomerulonephritis, a type of kidney failure, in May 2021 and received a transplant the following year.

She became unwell again at the start of 2024 and doctors found her transplanted kidney was also starting to fail.

Jody said it had been challenging seeing her daughter in hospital for so many months.

"It's hard to see her missing her friends, her cat, sea cadets and seeing her spending her 16th birthday stuck in the hospital," she said.

The children's hospital said the consultants, nursing staff and pharmacist all worked hard to ensure Ellie was well enough to attend, with a staff member even volunteering their time to attend the prom if needed.

They liaised with a dress shop, as well as local hair and nail salons and also arranged for a local vintage tractor club to provide the teen's dream mode of transport.

"Ellie was made to feel like a princess throughout it all and enjoyed having the best time at prom," Jody added.

"We were overjoyed to see her looking so happy and confident.

"She was truly in her element with her friends celebrating."

Ellie said her illness has been a "struggle" and it was hard not knowing when she would be able to go home.

But she said the staff at the hospital had been "lovely".

Reflecting on her time at prom, she said: "It was great getting all dressed up.

"I got to choose a dress that was all glittery and had people do my hair, nails and make-up."

She added it was just "wonderful" to see her friends and have fun.

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