Lone Peak High School juniors Tyler Hanks and Audrey Rhodes arrive at Audrey’s prom event. (Photo courtesy Midge Rhodes)
Lone Peak High School students donned gowns and tuxes on April 24 as they celebrated prom at the State Capitol Building. Nothing abnormal.
The out-of-the-ordinary part began the next Friday night when more than 200 students dressed up once again to celebrate prom for a student who had missed out.
Audrey Rhodes, a student who has Aspergers and Schizoaffective disorder, was unable to attend what would have been her junior prom because she has been out of school this year while living in the Utah State Hospital. When Audrey kept mentioning to her mom, Midge Rhodes, that she was upset she was missing prom, Midge contacted Lone Peak about her plans to put together a small event with perhaps three couples, including her daughter.
“I was just so overwhelmed. These kids were the definition of compassion to do this for her and show her that they loved her. I cannot express how we feel today.” —Midge Rhodes
“When I contacted Lone Peak, they said, ‘You know there are going to be more than three couples who’ll want to participate,’” Midge said.
From there, the Lone Peak Student Council got the word out to students about the second prom on May 1 on Main Street in Alpine. The school’s administration helped to contact Audrey’s friend Tyler Hanks, who she chose as her prom date. Midge’s friends, family and strangers helped organize decorations, food and music to go along with the theme of “under the stars.”
“The right people showed up at the right time all day (Friday) to get this pulled off for her,” Midge said. “I’m still in shock that the whole thing went so well, and that we were able to do it and that it turned into such a great event.”
Since Audrey was in 2nd grade, Midge has made a special effort to help inform Audrey’s classmates about her mental illness — which, at the time, was Aspergers (it was later that Audrey developed Schizoaffective disorder). She also tries to show appreciation to Audrey’s classmates for being friends with her.
“The kids know her and love her, and they all wanted to be a part of this prom,” Midge said.
The theme for Audrey’s prom was “night under the stars.” More than 200 Lone Peak High School students participated in the second prom. (Photo courtesy Midge Rhodes)
Audrey, who was named prom queen, thanked the students as they left for making her dreams come true. Midge is positive this is a night Audrey will always remember, especially since the attendees signed stars for Audrey to decorate her room.
“Audrey was so gracious, and it has been a while since I’ve seen her so connected,” Midge said. “I was just so overwhelmed. These kids were the definition of compassion to do this and show her they loved her. I cannot express how we feel today.”
Midge described the students at Lone Peak as great kids.
“People need to see that,” Midge said. “They are so good to each other and support each other.”
As May is Mental Health Awareness Month, Midge hopes people will become more aware and understanding of illnesses — whether physical or mental.
“Mentally ill kids need to have opportunities like this prom,” Midge said.
I taught Audrey's brother, Taylor (conducted the Utah Symphony in my class),
and sister, Lauren, my last year.
Here are some pictures from Facebook...in no particular order.
Several girls from my last year helped
Lauren, the red head, is Audrey's sister.
No matter what people think of Lone Peak,
they can really come through!!!
Classmates help put on special prom for girl with mental illness
By Candice Madsen
May 4th, 2015 @ 10:24pm
ALPINE — Audrey Rhodes had two big dreams — audition for the Stadium of Fire and attend her high school prom. But as a patient at the Utah State Hospital, both dreams were out of the 16-year-old's reach.
"To walk out of there, knowing that she doesn't know why she is there, and you just have to leave her. It is so heartbreaking," said Midge Rhodes, Audrey's mother.
Audrey has been a patient at the hospital since February. She has autism, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
"It was literally like watching the light in her eyes go out," Midge Rhodes said.
She first noticed her daughter's symptoms of schizophrenia when Audrey was in the fifth grade. "She would stay up all night giggling and talking to herself." she said.
As Audrey grew older, her condition worsened and her family could never leave her alone out of fear she might harm herself or others.
It took Audrey's parents four years to could find a psychiatrist able to diagnose her.
"It really is like losing a child, but she is still there and she doesn't know," Midge Rhodes said. "She thinks she is normal and can't understand shy she can't come home."
Planning prom
Hoping to give her daughter something to look forward to, Midge Rhodes started planning a dinner for Audrey with her high school crush, Tyler Hanks. But when she contacted a teacher at Lone Peak High School to find him, the teacher said lots of students would want to come and support Audrey.
This, to me, is the epitome of compassion.
–Midge Rhodes, Audrey's mother
Plans for Audrey's own prom quickly came together. Friends, and even strangers, donated decorations and food and helped set everything up Friday at an Alpine church building.
"This, to me, is the epitome of compassion," an emotional Midge Rhodes said as she worked to get lights and paper stars strung. "The number of kids that are going to come out tonight and be here for her, and the people that have come together to help me put this on for her, that is compassion."
Audrey's "dream date," Tyler, shared an English class with her last year. He considered it an honor to escort Audrey to her dance.
"I was more than happy to do it because Audrey's a really cool girl," Tyler said.
The special night
More than 100 students decked out in prom attire greeted Audrey when she arrived. She beamed as she got out of the car. Tyler handed her a corsage, and Audrey presented him with a stuffed animal.
"This is cute. You are cute, too," Audrey told her date.
"You look really good tonight," Tyler said.
Audrey Rhodes and her prom date, Tyler Hanks. (Photo: Rhodes family)
The couple then made their way inside to the dance floor as their parents watched.
"It is incredible. It really is," said Bryan Rhodes, Audrey's father. "The support we have received for such a humble idea, people I haven't even met just coming out of the woodwork, it really is quite something."
Audrey has faced many dark nights, but on this special night the stars all shined — and she couldn't have been more grateful.
"It is the best night of my life," Audrey said, taking a break from the dance floor. "They are all really nice. They are all good people. I like them a lot and they are beautiful too."
There was still one more dream to come true.
"I hope they have a prom queen here," said Audrey, unaware that she would soon receive the honor.
Audrey's older sister, Jessica Rhodes, first thanked the crowd before bestowing the honor.
"I know it has made Audrey's dreams come true and it has helped my family, and I'm just so grateful for all of you," she said.
Jessica Rhodes then called her sister and Tyler to the stage as the crowd began chanting, "Audrey! Audrey! Audrey!"
After receiving a crown made of flowers, Audrey took the microphone: "I want to say something. Even though I am going through really hard times, being stuck in the hospital for medication reasons, this is really a dream-come-true. Thank you guys for doing this for me."
More than a dance
But it was Audrey everyone wanted to thank for bringing them together to celebrate dreams, friendship and compassion.
For Audrey's family, the night gave them the chance to forget the heavy toll mental illness has taken on their family.
The support we have received for such a humble idea, people I haven't even met just coming out of the woodwork, it really is quite something.
–Bryan Rhodes, Audrey's father
"For six years we have been fighting not only for help for Audrey, but to keep our family together," Midge Rhodes said.
She said her family used to have spontaneous dance parties in the kitchen to reduce some of the stress, adding that, "This time our community danced with us and it was amazing!"
At 9 p.m., the prom queen had to return to the hospital, but everyone else stayed to help clean up.
"It was like a small army. We had that placed cleaned up in just over an hour," Midge Rhodes said. "We have the most awesome kids here."
She hopes publicity from this dance will encourage more families to discuss mental illness.
"You need the help and the support and you have to talk about it," she said.
She also said she will be forever grateful for the kindnesses shown to Audrey.
"They are not afraid of her," Midge Rhodes said. "And it is not something that is scary or should be shunned; it's an illness."
Contributing: Mike Headrick
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