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Kaley Banuelos, 19, poses with nurses and staff at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth after they surprised her with a graduation ceremony May 22, 2024. (Courtesy photo | Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth)
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Kaley Banuelos, 19, looked forward to walking the stage to receive her diploma from Billy Ryan High School in Denton. 

But, in April, Banuelos was diagnosed with leukemia. She had to be hospitalized at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth and immediately undergo chemo treatment. 

Administrators at Ryan High allowed Banuelos to graduate early, but she felt “bummed” to be missing out on a monumental moment in her life. 

“I was not expecting to end senior year this way,” she said. “I thought I would walk down with my friends, take our pictures and go out and eat.” 

When Lindsay Schofield, a nurse in the hospital’s interventional radiology department, learned Banuelos would have to miss her graduation, she called the oncology department to put together a surprise ceremony May 22. 

Banuelos was sitting in her hospital bed when she was asked to step into the hallway. There, she put on a red graduation cap and gown. A roar of applause greeted her as she made her way to a decorated waiting room that had cupcakes and gifts. 

“I got a huge influx of emails from people I didn’t even know that were so willing to help and excited,” Schofield said. “It was going to be something little and kind of cheesy just to try to make her smile and it turned into this really big celebration for her.”

Kaley Banuelos walks down the halls of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth after nurses and staff surprised her with a graduation ceremony May 22, 2024. (Courtesy video | Texas Health Fort Worth)

Brandi Corcoran, Banuelos’ mother, was overtaken by a wave of emotions seeing the support for her daughter from nurses and staff at Texas Health Fort Worth. 

“You don’t expect this to happen to your baby, and what (the nurses) did for her … it was very special,” she said. “I can’t thank them enough.” 

As for Banuelos, the hospital celebration served as motivation to continue treatment. She knows she’ll be walking the stage at her college graduation in a few years. 

“I’ve never experienced anything like that,” she said. “I just felt so much love and strength, and I just knew I’m going to get through this. I’ve got this.”

David Moreno is the health reporter for the Fort Worth Report. His position is supported by a grant from Texas Health Resources. Contact him at david.moreno@fortworthreport.org or @davidmreports on X.

At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.