The seventh annual SickKids prom kicked off on Friday night, inviting teens who are patients at The Hospital for Sick Children to momentarily forget about their health troubles, get gussied up and dance the night away. Nearly 30 teens and their guests got together for prom, a rite of passage many missed at their own schools because of their illness.

Amanda Mercer, 16, dyed her hair pink a month ago. “I’ve pretty much been (at SickKids) my whole life,” she said. She met her date, Kayla, in the hospital three years ago. “Seeing everyone and having a great time is really special.”

Jessica Pluard, 16, gets her makeup done for the SickKids prom. “I feel really good,” said Pluard, who has leukemia. “In the hospital you go through a lot of hard times… but it’s nice to be with people who are going through the same things.”

Jessica Pluard, 16, takes a spin at SickKids prom. The hospital’s Rotunda Room was decorated in an enchanted forest theme, with greenery hanging from the ceiling. Live music and the OTF Dance Troupe helped get the party started. “I feel really good,” said Pluard, who has leukemia. “In the hospital you go through a lot of hard times… but it’s nice to be with people who are going through the same things.”

Jasmin Singh, 18, has granulomatosis with polyangittis, which affects her lungs, sinuses and kidneys. She’s been a patient at SickKids for nine years and this is her third prom at the hospital. “I feel really safe here,” she explained as she was getting her makeup done. For health reasons, she missed her semi-formal at school. “This will be my last prom… It’s nice to come here and be part of the prom experience,” she said.

“To see everyone dance and have fun without judgment, and to not be worried about being sick, is the best part of this prom,” said Kayla Johnston, 20.

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She added that sick kids miss a lot of school events. So having a prom party in the hospital helps them “feel normal again.”

“Even just for a few minutes you forget about being sick or being in pain, and that’s amazing.”

Vanessa Wiens, 17, gets her hair done for SickKids prom. “I feel so comfortable here,” she said. “This is like my second family.”

Vanessa Wiens, 17, wipes a tear from her mother Jesica’s cheek as her father Mike looks on.

“This is her rite of passage, it’s her community, these are her people… it’s an opportunity to hang out with friends and be typical,” said Jesica . Vanessa has juvenile arthritis and has been in and out of SickKids since she was 9 years old.

Amanda Farr’s mother, Carmela, wept as her daughter was getting hair and makeup done for prom. “It’s just that she’s missed out a lot,” said Carmela, wiping back tears. Her 17-year-old has Crohn’s disease is a “frequent flyer” at SickKids.

“I’ve never been to a prom before,” said Amanda from the stylist’s chair. She missed the milestone event at her own high school. “I’ve never had my hair or makeup done before, either. It’s nice to get pampered… and it helps to be distracted from being sick.”

Jasmin Singh, 18, brought Sophie Lyttle, 18, as her date to the SickKids prom. “It really wasn’t until this year that I was able to get to know some of my classmates,” Singh explained, adding that she brought her sister to the hospital’s annual prom in years past. “We really get along.”

Kayla Johnston, 20, Amanda Mercer, 16, and Toronto FC’s Nick Hagglund joke and dance before heading into the photo booth. The soccer players have come to party with the kids for the past few proms.

Steven Burfield and Ruby Lappin got the party started at prom, dancing up a storm to live music by The Heist. The pair met while playing hockey and it was their first prom ever. “I love it,” said Burfield. “This party is awesome.”