Missing graduation can be difficult for children, especially since they are celebrations of their early accomplishments in life. This could’ve been something a particular 6-year-old kindergartener would’ve experienced if it hadn’t been of her hospital, which decided to host a graduation on her behalf.
This is how a little girl could still attend a special graduation hosted on her behalf, despite being in the hospital.
The story of Jana Deaton
Jana Deaton was a kindergartener and a patient at Willis-Knighton Hospital in Louisiana. Jana was a 6-year-old, and her graduation happened at school. She was told she would have to miss it because she was at the hospital. However, when the staff heard about this, they decided it wasn’t something they wanted to happen. Because the staff thought this wasn’t fair, they decided to sprinkle a little magic and make Jana’s graduation come to life.
How the hospital staff held a graduation for an extraordinary little girl
Jana was a patient of the Willis-Knighton Health System in Shreveport, and when the staff heard that she would miss her graduation, they decided to host one, especially for her. To do this, they had to decorate her room with the help of Once Upon a Room Shreveport to make the day extra special for Jana. They decided to transform her room into a unicorn wonderland by decorating the walls.
Although Jana didn’t get an average graduation experience at school, she still got a memorable ceremony at the hospital.
Jana Deaton’s hospital graduation
The hospital staff said they decided to create a graduation ceremony when they discovered Jana would miss her graduation. They did this by having Jana walk down the hall while the staff was cheering and clapping for her as she walked.
Although she wasn’t in a school setting, she could still experience the applause of the staff as they cheered her on down the hall. After reaching her room, she received her diploma from her school principal. Jana goes to T.I. Rodes Elementary School in Eastwood. Stephanie Statham, a certified child life specialist at the hospital, contacted Once Upon a Room to make this possible.
What part did Once Upon a Room play in this story?
Once Upon a Room is a nonprofit organization that helps with personalized hospital room makeovers. They believe that a person’s surroundings can affect their happiness and healing. Their goal is to makeover rooms to promote happiness and healing to those pediatric patients and the critically ill.
This isn’t the first time the organization answered Statham’s call, as they have long been helping other patients by decorating rooms. As for Jana’s room, they decided to go with a unicorn theme with a simple celebratory design in line with her graduation.
In closing
While Jana Deaton might not have had a regular graduation ceremony like her peers, the hospital staff ensured she wouldn’t miss out on this special day. Although not surrounded by her peers, Jana could still hear the roaring cheers of the hospital staff, complete with music, as she made her way to her graduation.
Since she’s only in kindergarten, Jana still has several graduation ceremonies to attend as she gets older. Her first one at the hospital, however, might be one of the most memorable experiences ever because of the kindness and thoughtfulness of the hotel staff.
