Physical Wellness

High School Freshman with Terminal Bone Cancer Crosses Prom off Bucket List

By Makini Brice | Update Date: Mar 27, 2013 02:41 PM EDT

The scene was set: balloons and assorted decorations papered the room. A disco ball hung from the ceiling. Teenagers in suits and dresses walked about. Over the course of the night, Katelyn Norman was named prom queen.

The night would have looked the same as most other proms held for other high school students, except for one thing: this prom was held at a hospital. Prom queen Katelyn Norman, a 14-year-old freshman, has terminal bone cancer, osteosarcoma. She lay in the center of the room, in bed and with a hospital mask.

Norman has been battling the cancer for two years. According to the New York Daily News, last week, doctors informed the Tennessee teen that her time has run out. Not one to throw herself a pity party, however, Katelyn got to work making her very own bucket list. On the list: a last kiss, a Monroe piercing, an autographed T-shirt from the band Of Mice and Men, a trip to Italy and one full day with each of her siblings. After an outpouring of Tweets and Facebook messages to the group, the lead singer Tweeted that he could not stop thinking about Katelyn and that the set at their show in New York performed in her honor.

Also on the list was a prom. According to ABC News, the prom was supposed to take place on Tuesday evening. However, during the day, she had difficulty breathing and needed to be taken to the hospital. Despite her health, she insisted that the night go on without her.

It did. In an event called "Light the Night for Katie," thousands of people lined Highway 63 with candles in support for her. Others gathered outside the hospital, where Katelyn was staying, assembling in a heart formation. Ms. Norman waved from the window at her community.

Across town, the prom was held as planned. Some of the attendees, close friends of Katelyn, were told that they could celebrate with the prom queen after it was over.

Katelyn and her family are raising money to fund the activities on her bucket list. All donations to the site will be withdrawn on April 2. So far, the site has raised nearly $64,000.

A video about Katelyn's struggle can be found here.

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