A donor heart was located for a hospitalized young boy in Rome Wednesday, just hours after first lady Melania Trump visited him at a pediatrics hospital.
“My own heart is filled with joy over this news,” Mrs. Trump said.
The first lady’s visit to Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital in Rome came shortly after she and President Trump met with Pope Francis at The Vatican City. She chatted in Italian with some of the 600 young patients, who greeted her in unison with “Ciao, Melania!” She also took “selfie” photographs with them.
Mrs. Trump said she held hands with one unidentified boy who was awaiting a heart transplant, and read a book to him.
Hours later, upon arriving in Brussels, Belgium, with the president, Mrs. Trump learned that a donor heart had been found for the boy.
“The time I spent with the little ones in the Intensive Care Unit is something I will never forget, and I will pray for each of them daily,” Mrs. Trump said in a statement. “I want to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of the hospital, who all do such beautiful and critical work.”
Bambino Gesu, the first pediatric hospital in Italy, is run by the Catholic Church. It provides free health care to patients from nine countries and housing for about 3,500 families. The facility is the largest pediatric research center in Europe.
Mrs. Trump said her visit to the hospital was “very moving.”
“To spend time speaking to and coloring with children who have such a positive spirit despite illness was an amazing gift,” the first lady said.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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