Hospital staff bring prom to ailing teen

INDIANAPOLIS, May 10 (UPI) -- A teenage girl unable to attend her school's prom due to an illness enjoyed a makeshift prom thanks to the staff of an Indianapolis hospital, an official said.

Community Health Network Foundation spokesman Ryan Chelli said his group and Community Hospital North staff members worked together to offer ailing prom queen Leah Westrick a taste of the Fishers High School prom, The Indianapolis Star said Sunday.

Chelli said the Fishers senior, along with her boyfriend and several other friends, enjoyed a pre-prom dinner Saturday night at a hospital atrium transformed into a temporary restaurant.

Fishers Principal Jason Urban also attended the makeshift prom event to present Westrick and her boyfriend, senior Gabe Hulecki, with their honorary crowns as prom queen and king respectively.

Chelli told the Star that Westrick has been at the hospital since April 18 since the teen contracted an E. coli infection during a visit to Mexico on spring break. Her condition is not considered life-threatening and she should be released within two weeks, Chelli added.