Troy Theatre Student Creates Magical Moments

Troy High Junior Sean Hodges knows quite a bit about what it’s like to be chronically sick. His younger brother, Stefan should be joining Sean and walking the halls of Troy High as a Freshman this year. Instead, Stefan stays on track academically through Troy online school and divides the remainder of his time between Beaumont, U of M Mott Children’s and Cincinnati Children’s hospitals. Stefan suffers from 5 rare diseases and conditions.

“I see the days go by and my brother can’t ever enjoy the simple things, like going to a Troy Colts game or grabbing food with friends or just going to school. I’ve had lots of time to think about what I could do to help him and other kids like him and I realized, these kids just need some moments that are magical. Something to distract them from their next doctor's visit or that upcoming surgery or just help them not think about the chronic pain they live with daily,” said Hodges. “I thought, I can do something. I can give them Magical Moments”.

And magical it was when Sean invited 5 of his friends-- fellow Troy High Theatre Ensemble members Shane Held (20), Nick Cupelli (19), Trinh Pafford (19), Alexis Gearty (22) and Hannah Cheshire (20)—to don Disney Prince and Princess attire and hold court in the Salisbury Gardens at Royal Oak Beaumont. They spent several hours greeting and entertaining almost 100 children this past Saturday at Beaumont’s Annual Christmas Party for patients at the Ian Jackson Craniofacial and Cleft Palate Clinic.

The royal team of 6 spent time with each child and sang holiday songs. It was definitely a tossup of who had the biggest smiles at the party - the kids or the Magical Moments 6. “We think it was a win-win for all,” said Sean after the party. “I just want my friends and (TTE Costumer) Michael Gravame to know I couldn’t have made this magical time without them, and I can’t thank them enough for donating most of their Saturday to help bring smiles to all of the kids. Hopefully we made some Magical Moments they can keep in their hearts forever”.

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Photos courtesy of the Troy School District:

Princes: Sean Hodges (20), Shane Held (20), Nick Cupelli (19), and Princesses: Trinh Pafford (19) as Cinderella, Alexis Gearty (22) as Belle, and Hannah Cheshire (20) as Aurora