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St. Joseph's patients enjoy prom night

 
(right) Jo Spivey, 13, dances with her stepdad Russell Lee, of Brandon, during the fifth annual prom on Friday May 1st, 2015 at St. Joseph?s Children?s Hospital in Tampa. 

Current and former pediatric patients enjoyed a Big Top Circus-themed prom complete with music, dancing, refreshments, and keepsake photos. 

"I come home from work mad or upset and I look at her and it all goes away," Lee said, as he fought back tears. 

Before fighting a brain tumor, Spivey was right handed, now she's left handed. 

"Just to be able to have her up and out of the wheelchair, it felt so good," Lee said. "I hope that next year I'll be up here dancing with her."

MONICA HERNDON | Times
(right) Jo Spivey, 13, dances with her stepdad Russell Lee, of Brandon, during the fifth annual prom on Friday May 1st, 2015 at St. Joseph?s Children?s Hospital in Tampa. Current and former pediatric patients enjoyed a Big Top Circus-themed prom complete with music, dancing, refreshments, and keepsake photos. "I come home from work mad or upset and I look at her and it all goes away," Lee said, as he fought back tears. Before fighting a brain tumor, Spivey was right handed, now she's left handed. "Just to be able to have her up and out of the wheelchair, it felt so good," Lee said. "I hope that next year I'll be up here dancing with her." MONICA HERNDON | Times
Published May 2, 2015

Current and former pediatric patients enjoyed a Big Top Circus-themed prom, complete with music, dancing, refreshments, and keepsake photos, Friday at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa.

Before the fifth annual dance began, the girls got their hair and make-up done.

"For some seriously ill pediatric patients, this prom may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Christi Schwichtenberg, child life supervisor at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital.

"We think it's a night that every child should have, no matter how sick, so we're giving them a chance to go to prom now."