Campbell County rallied behind Katelyn Norman’s dream — friends and family booked a hall in LaFollette for a huge party — but breathing troubles forced her back into the hospital and plans had to be changed at the last minute.
Family and friends from Campbell County, Tenn. rally together to give Katelyn Norman the prom she always wanted.
Friends and family raced against time to save a dying girl’s dream.
They turned a hospital room into a prom venue when a breathing crisis drove tragically stricken Tennessee teen Katelyn Norman back to intensive care just before the big gala was set to start.
They turned a hospital room into a prom venue when a breathing crisis drove tragically stricken Tennessee teen Katelyn Norman back to intensive care just before the big gala was set to start.
Katelyn receives a corsage from her prom date.
Norman, 14, of Campbell County, Tenn., started her “bucket list” of dreams, including going to prom, after she heard last week that the vicious bone cancer that had ravaged her young body for two years was progressing irreversibly.
The community had banded together to help make her dream come true. Her family and friends booked a reception hall in LaFollette and prepared a huge party for Katelyn to attend, but earlier in the day she had breathing trouble and was rushed to the East Tennessee Children's Hospital, reported local station WATE.
Katelyn's spirit has been an inspiration for everyone she touched, friends say.
Katelyn's date wore a white suit as he gave Katelyn a corsage and a white sash, reading "prom queen," as she lay in her bed with an oxygen mask.
Katelyn's spirit has been an inspiration for everyone she touched, friends say.
Katelyn's date wore a white suit as he gave Katelyn a corsage and a white sash, reading "prom queen," as she lay in her bed with an oxygen mask.
Katelyn's prom date presents her with a prom queen sash.
"I think she's a hometown hero for all of us and a great inspiration to everybody," said Seirra Ames, who held a candle for Katelyn.
"Katie in the Sky with Diamonds" was the theme of the night.
"We wanted to try to make this day, and this time in her life special to her because she makes it special for people in Campbell County," the mayor explained.
Katelyn, who has batted bone cancer for two years, always wanted to attend prom. Thanks to the efforts of family and friends, her dream came true.
"She contacted me and said prom must go on, that's her, and you can't help but feed off that energy, that life," said Shepard.
The hospital staff converts a room into a prom venue for Katelyn.
Another item on Katelyn's bucket list was to see metalcore band Of Mice & Men in concert and get an autographed T-shirt. Word of this dream reached the band's lead singer Austin Carlile.
"Dear Katelyn Norman, our set was for you tonight," he tweeted Tuesday. "My mind couldn't stop thinking about you the whole time. You inspire me, and I love you."
Erica Estep, a spokesperson for the hospital, told the Daily News that Katelyn is currently in critical condition in the hospital's pediatric intensive care unit.
