There are so many things you remember about high school.
From first day jitters to school dances with your boyfriend or girlfriend, there are so many memories you can make.
But for one Ohio teen, making some of those memories weren’t able to be made when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
But, when the caregivers at the 17-year-old’s hospital found out she had missed her homecoming dance because of surgery, they knew immediately what they had to do. They brought the dance to her.
Megan Krafty was told on Sept. 5th she had a brain tumor. Exactly seven days later, her mother Jill Krafty said, the teen had surgery. While at the Cleveland Children’s Hospital, Megan talked about how crushed she was that she was going to miss the homecoming dance with her boyfriend.
Megan Krafty and her caregivers at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation. Photo by Lisa DeJong/Cleveland Clinic
So, hospital caregivers designed a special Christmas-themed dance just for Megan. Jill said that Christmas is Megan’s favorite holiday.
“They decorated the gym in a Christmas theme; it was all about her. It was called ‘ho, ho, homecoming’ …, and I think we were all just so surprised at the care they put into this whole event,” her mom said.
When Megan found out, she couldn’t contain her joy.
“[She was] very excited knowing she was still going to wear her dress and celebrate the day,” her mom said.
The young girl was able to wear her beautiful pink dress she had previously picked out for homecoming, said a hospital spokesperson.
“Megan loved all the decorations and how much effort they put into making the day special,” Jill said.
Megan Krafty and her boyfriend Thomas Wilson. Photo by Lisa DeJong/Cleveland Clinic
Megan picked out flowers for her boyfriend’s boutonnière. Thomas Wilson came to escort her to the dance, decked out in his suit.
“She got teary eyed seeing Tommy,” Jill said.
Together, the pair danced, had food and did crafts alongside their parents, grandmother and other hospital patients.
“It’s crazy seeing all the support that I have,” Megan said.
She continued, “It’s my senior year, I want to be here at the football games and everything I can’t be, and I can’t see all my friends like I was able to.”
The hospital said it hopes that the dance “will help ease the pain of missing the real one.”
Following the dance, Megan was able to go home for a short time before heading back to the hospital for surgery. She was welcomed home with a homecoming parade.
The Huron Police and Fire Department, football team, volleyball team, neighbors, friends, her entire family and the Huron High School marching band lined block after block, cheering her on.
Her following surgery gave the family even more joy: Doctors were able to remove 70 percent of the tumor in her brain.
“Hopefully, beat cancer, obviously. And then, get to go to Toledo for college for pharmacy and get to live in the honors dorms. Yeah, big goals,” Megan said.
Watch below for a look at this amazing teenager and the wonderful homecoming events that friends and family held for her.
