News Release 
Date: June 2, 2011
Contact: Michele Fisher
Phone: 732-235-9872
E-mail: fisherm2@umdnj.edu
Prom Wishes Fulfilled for Teen Patients with Cancer and Sickle Cell Disease
New Brunswick, N.J.– What started off as a wish fulfilled for one young person being treated for cancer has grown into a spectacular evening of pomp and pageantry for dozens of teen hematology/oncology patients. They won’t soon forget their night at the prom.
Together, The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ), Embrace Kids Foundation, the Beauty Foundation and Beauty Foundation Friends (BFF’s), recently hosted the first-ever “Hem/Onc” Prom for teen survivors and youngsters receiving treatment at CINJ or its Flagship Hospital, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) in New Brunswick. Dressed in the latest fashions, attendees aged 12 to 23 and their dates converged upon PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick for a special night of dinner and dancing. CINJ is a Center of Excellence of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
The idea started last year when a young patient wanted to attend his prom, but was hospitalized and could not go. Nurses and other team members from CINJ, RWJUH and the Embrace Kids Foundation flew into action, quickly donning their own prom gowns, tiaras and tuxedos; decorating the patient’s room; and providing music and food for a festive atmosphere.
“For all of us involved in putting it together, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room, but for that youngster, it brought a smile so wide. We will never forget it,” said CINJ Pediatric Assistant Nurse Manager, Dawn Yuhas, RN. “It was at that moment, we all knew that we could be bringing that same feeling to so many of our patients on a much larger scale, thus the Hem/Onc Prom was born,” added RWJUH Child Life Specialist Emma Neely.
“There are many rites of passage for a young person, including attending one’s prom. When undergoing cancer treatment though, teens sometimes miss out on these very important milestones,” said Embrace Kids Executive Director Glenn Jenkins. “We are pleased to be a part of this collaborative effort to bring these youngsters such a memorable experience.”
Jackie Ceraolo knows firsthand what it is like to miss such milestones. She is a founding member of BFF's - the teen division of the Beauty Foundation, which raises money for families fighting cancer. Now 15 and cancer free, she was diagnosed two years ago with a rare form of bone cancer called osteosarcoma. While she was undergoing treatment, her friends were preparing for eighth-grade graduation and all of the celebrations that went with it. She encouraged the involvement of BFF’s because she wanted to make sure that other kids weren’t ‘missing out’ on such an important time in their lives. “While an eighth-grade dance or the prom is just one night in the life of a teen, it could be the most meaningful thing to them at that moment. Every teen deserves to have that special night, and we at BFF’s were happy to make some dreams come true.”
The teens involved in BFF’s even helped to provide prom attire for some attendees by collecting a few hundred donated dresses, suits and accessories in the weeks leading up to the event.
Jackie’s mother Lori Ceraolo is on the Board of Directors for the Beauty Foundation, which helped secure donations of prizes and entertainment for the evening. “In caring for a child with cancer, their emotional well-being is just as important as their treatment needs. By holding this event, these kids had a chance to do exactly what their peers are doing while being in a comfortable and familiar environment. Without the generosity of the community and the dedication of the professionals who care for these kids, this event would not have been a success,” she said.
Along with prizes, DJ entertainment, and an opportunity to have prom portraits taken, attendees had the fun of seeing their nurses, doctors and other care professionals decked out as part of the prom court.
About The Cancer Institute of New Jersey
The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (www.cinj.org) is the state’s first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center dedicated to improving the detection, treatment and care of patients with cancer, and serving as an education resource for cancer prevention. CINJ’s physician-scientists engage in translational research, transforming their laboratory discoveries into clinical practice, quite literally bringing research to life. To make a tax-deductible gift to support CINJ, call 732-235-8614 or visit www.cinjfoundation.org. CINJ is a Center of Excellence of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
The CINJ Network is comprised of hospitals throughout the state and provides the highest quality cancer care and rapid dissemination of important discoveries into the community. Flagship Hospital: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. System Partner: Meridian Health (Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Ocean Medical Center, Riverview Medical Center, Southern Ocean Medical Center, and Bayshore Community Hospital). Major Clinical Research Affiliate Hospitals: Carol G. Simon Cancer Center at Morristown Medical Center, Carol G. Simon Cancer Center at Overlook Medical Center, and Cooper University Hospital. Affiliate Hospitals: CentraState Healthcare System, JFK Medical Center, Mountainside Hospital, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (CINJ Hamilton), Somerset Medical Center, The University Hospital/UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School*, and University Medical Center at Princeton. *Academic Affiliate
About Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) is a 600-bed academic medical center and the principal hospital of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, NJ. Robert Wood Johnson is an innovative leader in advancing state-of-the-art care. RWJUH is the first hospital in the nation to implant the AbioCor self-contained artificial heart since the device received FDA approval in 2006. RWJUH is one of only three sites in the nation approved to offer this groundbreaking technology. Its Centers of Excellence include cardiovascular care from minimally invasive heart surgery to transplantation, cancer care, and women’s and children’s care including The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (www.bmsch.org). The hospital is also a Level 1 Trauma Center and serves as a national resource in its ground-breaking approaches to emergency preparedness. The hospital has earned significant national recognition for clinical quality and patient safety. RWJUH ranks among the best hospitals in America, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2010 ranking of “America’s Best Hospitals.” It is the fourth consecutive year that RWJUH has achieved this prestigious ranking. The American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer has rated RWJUH among the nation's best comprehensive cancer centers. The Leapfrog Group rated RWJUH as one of the 50 exceptional U.S. hospitals, as published in Consumers Digest magazine. Harvard University researchers, in a study commissioned by The Commonwealth Fund, identified RWJUH as one of the top 10 hospitals in the nation for clinical quality. RWJUH is also a four-time recipient of the prestigious Magnet Award for Nursing Excellence. Visit us online at www.rwjuh.edu.
About Embrace Kids
Embrace Kids Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1991 and located in New Brunswick, NJ. The organization provides funding for a variety of services for our patients and their families while continuing to support research initiatives and faculty development. Embrace Kids Foundation is designated a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization so donations are tax deductible as allowed under law and at the advice of your tax advisor.
About the Beauty Foundation
The Beauty Foundation’s mission is to alleviate the tremendous physical, emotional and financial strains that cancer treatment places on families. We help remove the burdens that families face when one of their members is fighting cancer. We raise money to offset the expenses they incur which aren’t covered under insurance, including child care, household expenses, transportation costs associated with treatment and other needs from lifestyle changes caused by cancer. The Beauty Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports and empowers families who are actively fighting cancer through direct monetary grants. The Beauty Foundation also supports the development of educational materials and provides support to local cancer centers. Our goal is to help inspire courage, strength and confidence that is needed to fight cancer.
About Beauty Foundation Friends
The Beauty Foundation Friends are dedicated young adults devoted to building friendships, raising money and celebrating the lives of children and teens living with cancer. We offset the economic hardships, raise the spirits and enrich the lifestyle for families fighting cancer through special events, fundraising activities, and most importantly just being good friends. Monies raised are used to fund uplifting gifts such as laptop computers, tickets to sporting events, and wigs and other expenses not covered by insurance.
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