prom is a time to remember for most teens, but for Heath Jarvis, 17, and many other kids with cancer, just being healthy enough to go, is a gift.

Many teens with the disease miss out on so much of what their peers’ experience. Jane and Mike Knausz, own MK Photography in Mentor. They heard about a foundation in Florida called Unforgettable prom prom . They loved the idea of kids with cancer having their own prom so they brought it to Northeast Ohio.

“When we heard about this, my husband and I thought we should bring it here,” Jane said. “With our small portrait studio, we had the connections to make it happen. We knew the florists and the DJ’ design your wedding dress design your wedding dresss. Everybody volunteered. Nobody hesitated. Nobody said no.”

The Ritz Carlton donated their hotel, housing the event. American Commodore Tuxedo provided all the tuxes for the boys. Seven hundred dresses dresses were donated from dress drives that were held at schools and businesses. Tower City opened a store front and allowed a day of shopping for the girls.

“We set it up as a store for the day,” Jane said. “All the girls got to pick out their dress . They all got a free dress and there was also jewelry jewelry , shoes, purses and wraps that were donated.”

Brown Aveda Institute opened their salons for the girls. Charles Schwab provided all the boutonnieres and corsages. Cleveland DJ’s provided the music, Thomas Limousine offered free limo service, and local celebrities were on hand to walk an actual red carpet and help the kids feel special.

“My favorite part was going to get the tuxes fitted,” Heath homecoming dresses under 100 dollars homecoming dresses under 100 dollars, a Lake High School sophomore said. “That was a lot of fun. I got to go and pick out whatever I wanted. I’ve never got to do anything like that before. The limo ride was cool flower girl dresses , too. We listened to music on the way there and the hotel was huge.”

A cartoonist was on board to draw characters of each teen who attended the event.

“He wanted to volunteer his services,” Jane said. “He was so much fun. He entertained them. He even went around to kids who were not able to get around. He went to kids who were in wheelchairs and who had walkers and drew them.”

Kids filled the dance floor all night. “I danced a lot,” Heath said. “I didn’t want to at first, but then later, when I got more comfortable, I did. I’m really glad I did.”

Feeling socially comfortable is hard for a teenager with cancer.

“Being with kids who understand what you are going through helps a lot,” Heath said. “It was hard at first go to back to school. I didn’t want to put in the effort at first, but now I do. There is not much that kids can do that I wouldn’t be willing to try, but going to this made me happy because I am not 100 percent sure that I can go to my prom. There were a lot of kids there who couldn’t go to their own prom. It made me happy that they were able to set that up for us and for those who missed their prom.”

Heath’s mom, Lisa Jarvis, was so thankful to all who made the night happen for her son.

“My son is still in active treatment. He has been for a year and a half. There is no guarantee that he will make his prom next year. He has missed a lot of dances and things like that because his immune system is so low. With treatment you just hold your breath. You just never know.”

The night was truly a night to remember.

“The kids got treated like stars for an evening. It was great. A lot o them feel insecure about their appearance because it changes during chemotherapy treatments. This was a blessing,” Lisa said.

Heath is in remission, or a maintenance stage said Lisa. He still takes chemo every day and goes once a month for chemotherapy at the hospital. There are still a lot of difficulties.

“Our main thing right now is what the chemo has done to his body,” Lisa said. “ wedding party dresses wedding party dresses beach dresses wedding beach dresses wedding;It has hurt his joints and things like that. He has missed a lot of school. If there are any flues going around, he catches it. He stays at the hospital for days and weeks at a time. He has had pneumonia twice this year. We want him have a normal life, but we have to watch.”

Heath was held back for one year of school because of his disease, but he is a very determined kid.

“He’s a proud type,” Lisa said. “He doesn’t want anyone to know that he struggles. Most kids wouldn’t understand. He had neuropathy real bad and he is really into sports. He got back into basketball with no feeling in his feel. It is hard for kids with cancer to do normal things so when he went to a prom where everybody has the same issues it’s just a relaxing situation for him. All the kids around him understand too.”

Depression is a real obstacle for kids with the disease.

“They lose touch with the world a lot,” Cocktail Dresses and Short Dresses at Dresses For Us are fashionable. Browse our selection today and enjoy free shipping!; Lisa said. “ little black dresses ;As parents we keep them as safe as we can. That first year of treatment is so brutal. I think that makes a big difference to be with other kids who have the same issues. He felt normal.”

“If I went to another dance and I was dancing with everybody, I would get a little more tired before everybody else. That would remind me that I was sick, but at this dance, I’m not the only one that needs a little break every now and then. Everybody needed a little break so that I could just forget about it all.”

One boy got out of treatment at 2 p.m. and made it to the dance that evening.

“He didn’t have a tux,” Jane said. “He started kind of slow, but he got out on the dance floor. One of our team members was his teacher. She said that he had been missing from school all year. He was a normal kid who played basketball and this year he has missed a lot of school. He has been very sick, but he pulled it together enough to come.”

One girl was devastated over her disease.

“ beach wedding accessories One of the nurses said she had not smiled in over a year,” discount wedding dresses Jane said. “She was mad at the world. She was depressed, but she was smiling at that dance. We are just giving the kids a night of happiness.”

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