GLENDALE, Arizona — She was ready for prom. Alexza Cornejo, 17, had her shoes, dress and makeup all ready when the unexpected derailed her plans. Alexza was admitted to banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Glendale for an emergency bronchoscopy procedure.
"That's all she kept talking about was prom and that she really wanted to go," says Jennifer Hernandez, and instructional aide at Glendale High School. Hernandez is one of the many who knew they had to do something for Alexza who was devastated about missing prom.
Janet Grom, a child life specialist at Banner Medical spearheaded the effort to make sure she didn't miss prom. Prom came to her.
Alexza's family brought her dress to the hospital and told her to put it on and they would all do makeup together. Meanwhile, downstairs her friends and other hospital employees were setting up a prom complete with cake, pizza and music.
Alexza walked in with a surprise she didn't see coming. "Whoa!," the 17-year-old said with a shocked look on her face. She gave everyone hugs and danced around the room until a pediatric nurse gave her a corsage and invited her to dance.
"I think I'm going to cry," Alexza said while wiping tears from her face.
Everything happens for a reason, even if you don't know what the reason is in the moment. Missing prom was one of the worst things that ever happened for Alexza, but now it's a moment she will never forget.