"There are diseases that are rare and painful, which tragically impact the life of those who suffer from them. It is an extremely challenging situation, especially when it involves a child. A 2-year-old girl with campomelic dysplasia knows this all too well.
"This life-threatening disorder has affected the development of her skeletal system, reproductive system, and other parts of her body. Emma, from Seattle, Washington, was born prematurely on June 27, 2017.
She spent her first 8 months of life in the hospital due to her delicate condition. However, despite this challenging situation, this little girl never stops smiling."
"Emma combats the pain with her charisma and love for Disney princesses. The little one is an avid fan of these stories, and for this reason, her family decided to give her a beautiful surprise.
Since March, Emma has been admitted to Seattle Children's Hospital in Colorado. She underwent a 6-week observation period before undergoing a major spinal surgery to stabilize her spinal cord."
"She spent her time in the hospital prior to the surgery in halo-gravity traction to stabilize her spinal cord and prevent paralysis," said pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Samuel Browd.
"The girl underwent a surgical procedure that lasted over 5 hours, and after the surgery, she was placed in the observation room.
Her mother, Rachel Krall, took this time to decorate her shared room with tiaras and a halo of flowers and princess-themed objects, intending to surprise her when the little one returned to her room."
"Tangled" and "The Little Mermaid" are Emma's favorite movies, which she enjoys watching both at home and in the hospital.
Everyone in the healthcare facility is aware of her love for these movies, so even the nurses and doctors decided to participate in the organization. They arranged for Rapunzel to visit Emma's room, and her reaction was truly touching.
"Her reaction upon seeing Rapunzel enter through the door was something like, 'Whoa, who is this girl?' And then she had a lot of fun," Krall said.
At the moment of the surprise, the girl couldn't speak due to a tracheostomy tube, but this didn't stop her from enjoying and radiating happiness.
Emma played peek-a-boo with Rapunzel, two of her favorite things. Additionally, the doctors also joined in the celebration by wearing adorable tiaras on their heads to make Emma laugh.
"It was definitely the first time I wore a tiara, but over the years, we have done some fun things for the kids. That's what's special about children's hospitals, the ability to see them as children rather than just patients and create fun for them despite the challenging circumstances," Browd said.
This has been a truly heartwarming moment, and we are thrilled that some specialists take the time to give such gestures to their patients.
Love and joy are crucial for the recovery of chronic illnesses like the one Emma is facing, so we trust that she can gradually overcome her illness with her strength and the love surrounding her.
Congratulations to these professionals for their wonderful act of love. Share this story and let more people join such initiatives to bring joy to the lives of many sick children.
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