The lunch bell rang last Friday at Sunnyside Elementary just like it does every other day. Inside, young Ella-Ray Lewis prepped for what she figured would be another afternoon of ABCs. But outside, in a mysterious black limousine, Nikita Graham had other ideas.
Other great ideas. You see, over the course of the past few months, Graham has become one of Ella-Ray's very bestest best friends. And today, for one afternoon at least, she was going to ensure that this little girl would live the life of a princess.
Soon they were on their way. A spin through town, a stop for cupcakes, a jaunt through the countryside and, in preparation for the evening grand finale, a little primping and a whole lotta girl stuff at the local hair salon.
And then it was on to the pièce de résistance.
At 5 p.m., the limo pulled up to Crown Palace Banquet Hall on the Surrey-Delta border. Dressed to the nines, this seemingly unlikely yet glowing couple disembarked and made their way up the staircase.
At the top were a pair of ballroom doors taller than three Ella-Rays stacked on top of each other. She'd confided to her friend earlier, in the quiet of the limo, that "I'm crying right now. I can't believe this is all for me." But as they neared those amazing doors, Ella-Ray could only guess what was coming next.
Few could argue that a more deserving little girl exists. Born eight years ago with a devastating condition called Giant Congenital Nevus, Ella-Ray's life has been anything but normal.
Indeed, it's often bordered on hellish. "Nevus" is the medical term for birthmark. Throw "giant" and "congenital" in front of it, and you have the basis of a ghastly affliction that fluctuates wildly from one case to another. Ella-Ray's case has been worse than most, ultimately involving much of her body. To date, she's been forced to endure 30 separate operations - 27 to relieve severe skin conditions, and three to help straighten her back. Many of them have stretched more than six hours. The recovery time, of course, has been incrementally longer.
Further details are unnecessary. Suffice to say that the sequence of photos her dad has taken throughout the years are difficult - almost unbearably difficult - to digest.
More operations are ahead and she continues to wear torso casts much of the time to help reshape her back. And more of her body must be rebuilt. But the good news, says her father Craig - a loving, adoring dad if there ever was one - is that the worst may well be behind her.
And certainly to see her as those monster doors were pulled aside and she made her grand entrance Friday afternoon at the banquet hall, you'd be forgiven for thinking this a typical, healthy kid. That's how far she's come.
Inside, so much awaited. And that's where Ella-Ray's awesome new friend had worked her magic.
Graham, a model and singer by trade, met Ella-Ray in July of 2014 while face-painting for a buddy at a local event.
"She came running over at the end of the night wanting to get her face painted. Her dad took her jacket off, revealing her body cast. But she was such a great little girl, and later as I was leaving, I said to myself, 'There's something I have to do,' and turned around to see her again."
And that was it. Graham was hooked. She sees Ella-Ray regularly now, acting as big sister/friend/mom and whatever else seems right at the time. And although the relationship would seem to benefit the younger of the two, Graham says that's not always the case. "She's brought a lot of life to my life."
As for last Friday - two weeks past Ella-Ray's official eighth birthday - Graham says she wanted to give her a "girl's day." To that end, she "cold-called probably 200 businesses" in an effort to create an unforgettable experience.
Boss Limousine responded with a freebie afternoon tour. Crown Palace essentially handed her the keys to the place. Glass Slipper Gowns delivered fairy tale gowns, and photographer Judith Laurel documented the entire thing.
But from a child's perspective, perhaps the biggest score of all was the entertainment. Spearheaded by well-known local performer Korki the Clown, the party became a who's who of balloon artists, magicians and face-painters. Mr. Bubbles was there, as was Lollipop, Smartee Pants, Annie Banannie, and, of course, Korki. All off the clock.
Later, in the calm of their home, Ella-Ray would tell her dad, "This was the best day ever in my whole life." And as friends, relatives, and of course dad and Nikita Graham watched her that evening, running, chasing, being chased, bopping about the bouncy castle, chowing down on pizza and laughing like she didn't have a care in the world, who could argue.
For more info or to lend a hand to Ella-Ray, visit Onceuponyourtime.ca.