MEXICO CITY — The smell of hairspray obscures Alexa Flores López as she puts the finishing touches on an intricate updo on her thick black hair. When Alexa found out she was having a quinceañera – the traditional 15th birthday celebration in Mexico – she could barely contain herself.
“She was super excited, like her heart was going to come out!” said her mother, Carmen López Díaz. “She was just counting down the days.”
At the Federico Gomez Children’s Hospital in Mexico City, volunteers dressed in white and blue nurse uniforms rush to tend to birthday girls and boys. They curl their hair, do makeup, and adjust bow ties.
It’s all for the hospital’s annual “Mis XV” or “My Fifteenth” event. Whether the young patients are being treated for a serious illness or have overcome cancer, the hospital celebrates these teenagers coming of age. After undergoing expensive treatments, some families are unable to afford a party – and the hospital offers them an alternative.
“We actually just bought shoes because the hospital takes care of everything,” Díaz said.
The hospital began holding the event in 2017 after volunteer nurses learned that a beloved patient would soon turn 15. They took the opportunity to organize a celebration for her and ended up turning it into an annual hospital event that has been growing for seven years.
In Mexico, the “quinceñera” or “fifteenth birthday” is a huge rite of passage for teenagers, especially girls. The occasion marks a teenager’s transition to adulthood.
Although Alexa’s birthday was last month, the hospital allows patients to participate if their birthday falls in the year of the celebration.
She has been a patient at the hospital for three years receiving treatment for lupus. His younger sister was diagnosed with the same illness last year, making things more difficult for the family. However, the hospital celebration was something to look forward to.
“We never imagined it this much – we thought it would be a normal event at the hospital,” his mother said.
Francesca Solórzano, a volunteer at the hospital for 17 years, helps Alexa on her big day and meets her every need. Solórzano makes sure the teen has enough water and applies hairspray to her dress to ensure the fabric stays fresh.
She also sports a silver and blue brooch that matches Alexa’s bouquet.
“I get more than I give,” says Solórzano about volunteering. “I give my time here and I receive many blessings in return.”
Solórzano takes Alexa to a dressing room to put on the dress. When she appears in a navy blue dress dotted with sequins, the volunteers exclaim, “How beautiful!” Another volunteer takes out her cell phone and takes a photo. “She looks like a princess!”
Across the room, Carlos Emilio Escalona García, 15, sits with his mother after getting dressed.
For his mother, Marta Magdalena García Chávez, the day is full of joy.
“It’s really beautiful to see all this happening,” she said. “He just had surgery, so we wouldn’t have been able to have a party.”
Carlos has been a patient at the hospital for 13 years. He has dealt with heart problems since he was a child and just underwent his fourth surgery. His mother said he gets tired often, but is still motivated to make the most of each day.
“Like any other teenager, my favorite class is physical education,” says Carlos. “I also really like doing math – I have a lot of fun doing different operations.”
Preparations for the hospital extravaganza have been underway for a long time. In January, the hospital is already contacting makeup artists and other vendors to see if they want to participate. The entire event is free.
After putting on their majestic looks, it’s time for the party to begin.
Downstairs in the banquet hall, family members crowd the dance floor, craning their necks to see the teenagers. Upon entering with their partners, Carlos and Alexa end up lined up side by side.
“A round of applause for our fifteen-year-olds!” says someone in the crowd.
At the beginning of the first dance, Alexa takes her partner’s hand and her mother zooms in on her phone to record a video. After the song’s chorus ends, her mother takes a deep breath and puts away her phone – ready to capture the moment.
She looks in awe at her daughter as she twirls in her blue tulle skirt.
This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
