Young Girls With Kidney Disease Picked a Prom Dress at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif-- Young girls from Southern California who are not able to attend their proms due to their struggle with kidney disease picked their prom dresses at St. Joseph Hospital in Orangeon Saturday, January 9th, preparing themselves for the Renal Support Network (RSN) prom slated for next Saturday.  The RSN presented more than a hundred new and used dresses in a variety of sizes and colors for the girls to choose from. The dresses and accessories were donated from all over the country exclusively for the event.

The prom dress selection was a first for St. Joseph Hospital dialysis patient Eileen Mendez, 13, of Santa Ana.  Because of her kidney disease, she goes to school three days a week and goes to dialysis on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

“I created the Renal Teen Prom because I missed my own prom due to chronic kidney disease, which I have had since I was two,” said Lori Hartwell, Founder and President of RSN. “I spent all my teenage years on dialysis. We want to give these teens the chance to get to know others who are like them, walking in the same shoes.”

 Six patients sponsored by St. Joseph Hospital will be attending the 11th Annual RSN Renal Teen Prom is coming this January 17th, 2010. This event is open to people with kidney disease ages 13-24 and one guest at no charge.  This year's prom will be held at the Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA.