MEXICO CITY — The smell of hairspray clouds Alexa Flores López as she puts the finishing touches on an intricate updo in her thick black hair. When Alexa found out that she was having a quinceañera, the traditional 15th birthday celebration in Mexico, she could barely contain herself.
“He got very excited, as if his heart was going to burst out!” said his mother, Carmen López Díaz. “I was counting the days.”
At the Federico Gómez Children’s Hospital in Mexico City, volunteers dressed in white and blue nursing uniforms rush to care for boys and girls who have birthdays. They curl their hair, put on makeup, and adjust bow ties.
It’s all for the hospital’s annual “My XV” or “My Fifteenth” event. Whether young patients are being treated for a serious illness or have overcome cancer, the hospital celebrates these teens’ coming of age. After going through expensive treatments, some families can’t afford a party and the hospital offers them an alternative.
“We really just bought shoes because the hospital takes care of everything,” Díaz said.
The hospital began hosting the event in 2017 after volunteer nurses learned that a beloved patient would be turning 15 soon. They took the opportunity to host a celebration for her, eventually turning it into an annual hospitality event that has been going strong for seven years.
In Mexico, the “quinceñera” or “fifteenth birthday” is a great 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 within a year of the celebration.
He has been a patient at the hospital for the past three years receiving treatment for lupus. Her younger sister was diagnosed with the same illness last year, which complicated things for her family. However, the hospital celebration was something she was looking forward to.
“We never imagined so much; “We thought this would be a normal event at the hospital,” her mother said.
Francesca Solórzano, who has been a volunteer at the hospital for 17 years, assists Alexa on her big day and takes care of all her needs. Solórzano makes sure the teen has enough water and sprays hairspray on her dress to make sure her fabric stays crisp.
She also sports a silver and blue pin that matches Alexa’s bouquet.
“I receive more than I give,” says Solórzano about volunteering. “I give my time here and receive many blessings in return.”
Solórzano takes Alexa to a dressing room to put on her dress. When she emerges in a deep navy blue dress dotted with sequins, volunteers exclaim, “How pretty!” Another volunteer pulls 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 dressing.
For his mother, Marta Magdalena García Chávez, the day is full of joy.
“It’s really beautiful to see all this happen,” he said. “They just operated on it, so we wouldn’t have had a chance 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 he 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 enjoy doing math; I have a lot of fun doing different operations.”
Preparations for the hospital’s big show have taken a long time. As far back as January, the hospital is already reaching out to makeup artists and other vendors to see if they want to participate. The entire event is free of charge.
After putting on their regal looks, it’s time for the party to begin.
Downstairs in the banquet hall, family members crowd the dance floor and crane their necks to watch the teenagers. When they enter with their companions, Carlos and Alexa end up lined up next to each other.
“A round of applause for our fifteen-year-olds!” says someone in the crowd.
As they begin their first dance, Alexa holds her partner’s hand and her mother zooms in on her phone to watch a video. After she calms down the chorus of the song, her mother takes a deep breath and puts her phone away, ready to capture the moment.
She looks in amazement at her daughter as she twirls around in her blue tulle skirt.
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