Democracy Dies in Darkness

A prom night prescription for teenage patients at Children’s National Hospital

For the second consecutive year, hospital officials transformed the Bunny Mellon Healing Garden rooftop balcony into a dancing destination for patients with serious diagnoses.

By
May 24, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. EDT
Isabelle Ornquist, 18, gets a hug from registered nurse Megan Pendergast during Children’s National Hospital's teen prom on Wednesday night. The theme was "A Magical Night Under the Stars." (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)
5 min

Despite being nicknamed for the Disney character “Belle,” recent high school grad Isabelle Ornquist attended only one dance in her school years.

But Wednesday night she excitedly swept across a pink-carpeted runway, greeted by two emcees who exclaimed into microphones: “Welcome to your prom!”

Pop music blared as Ornquist, 18, approached a folding table lined with blue and white blossoms.