Jalisa came in the room riding her IV pole like a chariot. She was in her element that day—the make-up, the nail polish, and the girl-stuff. For lipstick, she chose bright cherry red and kissed everyone on the cheek leaving little lip marks on their faces. Then she prissed around in her crown and queen’s robe, with the IV pole trailing behind, waving and blowing kisses to onlookers. She posed for a picture in remembrance of that day and frolicked out the room with red lips and a glistening tiara adonning her hairless brown head. When Jalisa died a few months later, the hospital staff explained she didn’t have much hanging on her wall, but she did have the picture from Queen for a Day’s visit. Jalisa embodies the reality that Queen for a Day may seem trivial—just putting make-up and nail polish on cancer patients and letting them play dress up—but compared to what they go through, that special treatment means the world to them.

So many times, illnesses can hurt a patient psychologically as much as it can physically. Children can’t help but wonder what their chances are, if there even is a chance. They forget to be kids and resort to the isolation the disease offers as the alternative. When Queen for a Day comes to the hospital, we give the patients a reason to be a kid again. We host tea parties for girls to be pampered with makeovers, manicures, and their very own coronation ceremony. Each patient receives a real tiara donated by beauty queens across the nation! When a child smiles in the mirror after her makeover and laughs, she has defeated her illness. The Queen for a Day crown symbolizes victory as she is a champion over her illness.

For the boys, we encourage the qualities of bravery and courage through the Heroes program based on firefighters and police officers. We invite local heroes to attend the event to tell heroic stories and develop a friendship with the patients. Patients receive firefighter hats, badges, and other hero-themed gifts. Heroes is a recent addition to the Queen for a Day program, but has proved popular among patients, hospitals, and communities across the nation.

Jenna Edwards, founder

Queen for a Day® is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization offering quality of life services to pediatric cancer patients.