Express & Star

Prom night dream could still come true for Tiegan

A teenage girl who missed out on a high school school prom due to illness may yet get the chance to wear a ballgown and dance the night away.

Published

The family of Tiegan Brownhill,16, are raising money to hold their own prom later this year.

Tiegan, of Clothier Street, Willenhall, has had a chronic stomach condition all of her life, undergoing major surgery two years ago and being home-schooled ever since. As a result, she has never had the chance to attend a school prom.

Now, mother Zoe, 35, and father Wayne, 42, are hoping to raise enough money to hold a prom in December to coincide with her 17th birthday celebrations.

Zoe said: "We have been negotiating places and dates for the prom. We are contacting hotels to try and get it on a Saturday in December near her birthday on the 16th, which ideally would be on the 12th.

"We want it to be a really nice venue for her, like the school would have with the cars at a nice hotel.

"She can have her hair and nails done with dress fittings, I want her to have all that, she deserves it."

Tiegan has undergone several major operations and faced a lot of complications, with her recovery period going on longer than expected.

In the last four years, Tiegan has visited the operation theatre eight times and is currently undergoing tests to see if further surgery is needed.

She is living in constant pain and has only been able to visit her friends a handful of times over the past couple of years.

"Her friends have been so supportive, saying she deserves a prom more than anyone," added Zoe.

"This means a lot to all of us cause our lives have been put on hold, her stays in hospital have been around five weeks at a time so it has been a long and complicated road.

"She has hardly done any secondary education whatsoever, the last two years have been the worst for her and she hasn't been to school at all in the past two years.

"She has smiled through everything, she has never complained even though she is in constant pain, and we are so proud of her.

"She is absolutely brave and an inspiration to us all."

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