Texas teen could not attend prom after suffering a serious injury — then the hospital did something radical

Prom is one of the most prominent memories one has of their school life. The shiny decorations, an outfit you spend months planning, the process of finding a partner, and the company of your friends — these are irreplaceable memories. Missing prom is no less than a tragedy for a high-schooler, but this Texas teen was left with no other choice due to a major back injury that kept her restricted to the hospital bed. However, upon learning of her misery, the hospital found a way to turn it around for her, reported PEOPLE.

Ella Walker, an 18-year-old high school senior, ended up with a crucial back injury after a trampoline accident. She was admitted to the Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center in Shenandoah, Texas. Due to the severity of the accident, she was not permitted to get a discharge before prom, and this crushed her heart. However, she had no idea that the universe had sent an angel in human form to help her experience the special day — with a few necessary modifications.

On Saturday, April 26, the Trauma Survivorship Coordinator, Melanie Bradshaw, and other nurses at the hospital organized a prom for her. When Walker found out about the surprise, she told the outlet that the nurses were “godsent.” She added, “I felt like I was surrounded by angels.” The surgery involved inserting rods and screws to stabilize her back, and Walker was instructed to wear her brace all day, every day, for weeks, yet she got the chance to experience her special day while looking phenomenal.

The hospital organized the event on the very same night as Tomball High School’s prom, so she was lucky to have her friends, family, and boyfriend with her. She was experiencing this at the same time as her other schoolmates. Bradshaw mentioned that she wanted to surprise the high schooler, but on her mother’s advice, chose to ask her first if she was okay with the plan. Upon hearing the golden words coming from her mouth, she said, "Yes," with teary eyes. Without a break, Bradshaw got to work ordering decorations and flowers to decorate the hospital.

To enhance the day’s worth for her, Bradshaw permitted Walker to go home and get ready with an ICU nurse’s assistance. Bradshaw helped her do her hair and makeup and got her dressed, giving her the permission to take off her brace while clicking pictures with her special ones. "It's hard to stand there and feel beautiful with this brace on because it is really ugly," she expressed. "When I was allowed to take it off, it gave me a sense of like, 'Okay, this is how God meant it to be. You do look beautiful.'" She also mentioned that being in this position for days inspired her to help others, with Walker now aiming to be a trauma nurse or a flight nurse. "I'm not glad that I broke my back, but I'm glad that this whole experience happened and that I get to understand from the patient's side and hopefully one day from the nurse's side, as well," she said.

Walker opened up about her trampoline accident, revealing that it happened at her cousin’s birthday party in a trampoline park back in April. She had jumped about nine feet above the surface, and a risky backflip had landed her roughly on her back. The doctors said she could’ve ended up paralyzed had the injury been an inch higher on her spine. "It was the most intense pain I've ever felt in my whole life," Walker confessed. However, all's well that ends well, they say, and Walker now has a statutory warning about trampolines along with some of the best memories she's ever made in her life.