Girl, 3, becomes princess for day at youth ballet
Cancer victim gets to sit in carriage with CinderellaHuntsville Times - Monday, April 07, 2008
By JON BUSDEKER
Times Staff Writer
Keaston Bell's pink fingernails matched the pink gift bag sitting in her lap.
"Do
you like presents?" asked a nearby adult.
Without hesitating, Keaston smiled and nodded her head yes. What 3-year-old doesn't like presents?
Inside the bag, past the purple ribbons and underneath the tissue paper, was a puffy white dress decorated with embroidered flowers.
The dress was fit for a princess. It was fit for Keaston.
And she needed it for her special day.
Keaston has cancer. Since the age of 1, Keaston has been making trips to Birmingham Children's Hospital for treatment. She no longer has any hair, and the cancer has spread to her bones, kidneys and most of her body.
On Sunday, Keaston, who lives in Boaz, got a break from the chemotherapy and the radiation treatment. Accompanied by her mother Amanda Brown, her Aunts Brenda Enrich and Glenda Brown and her mother's friend, Amber Crutchfield, Keaston was in town to see the Alabama Youth Ballet Theatre's performance of "Cinderella" at the Von Braun Center.
"Keaston loves princesses and she loves ballet," Brown said.
Lisa Ordway, president of the Alabama Youth Ballet Theatre, has been planning Keaston's special day for more than six weeks.
In February, Ordway received a call from a social worker concerning Keaston. The social worker wanted to know if the ballet company would make Keaston's wish come true by making her a princess for the day.
"I immediately said 'yes,' " Ordway said. "Little girls are princesses like this for such a short period of time."
Soon, others wanted to help. Embassy Suites donated a room, Mercedes-Benz of Huntsville donated a ride to the Von Braun Center, and Ellen's Creative Cakes baked a special cake in the shape of Cinderella's carriage.
And Keaston seemed to take it all in stride.
"She doesn't like to be made a fuss over," her mother said.
After changing into her poofy princess dress, Keaston and her family were taken to the Von Braun Center and shown to their seats. Keaston sat on her mother's lap waiting for the curtain to open. Sunday's performance marked the first time the 3-year-old had seen a live performance of a ballet.
"She's been in the hospital so much," Brown explained.
When the show opened, a voice came across the speakers and announced the afternoon performance was in honor of Keaston Bell.
With wand in hand, Keaston watched as the dancers performed "Cinderella."
And when Cinderella (played by Lydia Dyer) was whisked away to the ball in the white carriage, Keaston's eyes lit up and she couldn't stop smiling. It was Keaston's favorite part of the show, her mother said.
Following the performance, Keaston was brought on stage where she met the cast of the show and Cinderella.
Later, Keaston and Cinderella climbed into the carriage, which seemed to be a fitting spot for the two princesses. Most of the cast looked on, and some couldn't help but cry.
But Keaston just smiled. She seemed happy to be in the same carriage as Cinderella.
"You look so pretty," Keaston's mother said, while holding a camera and snapping dozens of photos.
When it was time to go, Keaston and her family headed back to the Embassy Suites.
It had been a big day for Keaston.
"This has been a good break," Brown said. "She had such a good time. I think she loved this a lot more than Disney World."
