A 6-year-old patient missed her kindergarten graduation. So the hospital hosted one.

SHREVEPORT, La. − When a 6-year-old patient was unable to attend her kindergarten graduation due to an extended stay at the hospital, the Louisiana medical center stepped in.

This news that Jana Deaton would miss graduation did not sit well with the staff at Willis-Knighton Health System in Shreveport and on May 16, she received her diploma from her principal at a graduation ceremony in the halls of Willis-Knighton.

"I think it is very nice," said Kaitlyn Farris, Deaton's mother. "I think this really changes the experience."

Stephanie Statham, certified child life specialist at Willis-Knighton along with Once Upon a Room Shreveport helped to make this day special for Deaton.

Deaton's room was transformed into a unicorn wonderland and the halls were filled with staff as she walked to receive her diploma from Stephanie Cockrell, her principal at at T.L. Rodes Elementary School in Eastwood.

"When I found out this hospital stay was going to be for two weeks and that she'd be missing her kindergarten graduation. I decided we needed to do something," said Statham.

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Statham contacted her friends at Once Upon a Room, which is a nonprofit organization that provides personalized hospital room makeovers to promote happiness and healing to critically ill and extended stay pediatric patients.

This is not the first time that Statham has called upon her friends. She said she has done this several other times when pediatric patients are having difficulties, to make their stay brighter.

Deaton was jumping around the room when she saw her room decorated in unicorns and was even more excited when she saw Cockrell waiting to congratulate her on graduating kindergarten.

"It makes everything else worth it when you get to see their faces light up," said Statham.

Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Girl gets surprise kindergarten graduation at Willis-Knighton hospital