What do you get when you mix a hot pink limousine, a plush hotel suite and a handful of teenage cancer patients? A fun day of bonding and relaxation, which is exactly what the organizers of the 9th annual Girls' Day Out at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford were intending.
The teens, girls ages 13 to 18, rode from the hospital to the Fairmont San Jose, where they spent the morning painting, creating earrings, necklaces and bracelets and chatting. The event was captured in an article on Packard's Healthier, Happy Lives Blog.
"It's nice to relax and be around girls who all know what we've gone through," said 13-year-old patient Naya. "Many of my friends have no idea what it's like, but these girls can relate."
"It was really comfortable," said 13-year-old Elena, who added that she enjoyed the limo ride. "Everybody is open because everybody knows what it's like to go through cancer treatment."
From the blog:
The afternoon ended with a gourmet lunch in the hotel, and the girls received goodie bags with beauty supplies from Peninsula Beauty and cozy blankets from Vera Bradley. But the conversations and friendships were the best part of the day.
'It’s a nice break to get away and take care of yourself,' said 15-year-old Chloe. 'And it’s nice to talk to the other girls. Sometimes you feel alone, but you’re not because there are others going through the same thing.'
Previously: Girls' Day Out event helps unite — and nurture — teens battling cancer
Photos courtesy of Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford