A teenage girl named Catherine Malatesta had Stage 4 cancer. When the time for her prom rolled around, she was released from the hospital so that she could attend. Catherine looked beautiful on that day in a blue halter dress. She glowed with such life that it was difficult to believe that she was ill. The pictures from that day clearly show how happy she was.
Sadly, as soon as the prom ended, Catherine returned to Boston Children’s Hospital. Three months later, cancer had claimed her.
Catherine’s friends wanted to keep her memory alive. Catherine’s mother called the idea they had for doing so “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Prom Dress.” Two friends from Catherine’s hometown and two of her friends from camp decided to take turns wearing her prom dress. The dress will make a tour of New England and then the West Coast, going from Massachusetts to Rhode Island and back to Massachusetts and then on to California.
Jillian was the first friend of Catherine to wear the dress. She recalled Catherine’s positive energy and said she felt that same energy herself. Catherine’s mother said that the most difficult thing for her was the idea that people might forget about Catherine, but the Sisterhood of the Traveling Prom Dress made her feel that Catherine would remain in people’s hearts for many years to come.
