News

Actions

Pediatric patients have pretend "wedding"

Posted
and last updated

It's hard being in a hospital as a kid. Between finger pricks and pic lines, finding some fun, let alone finding friends might seem very hard. 

But not for Danny Anderson,10, and Emily Somerville,9. The pair met three years ago at Nebraska Medicine.

"Well, he was riding on his pole, yelling like Tarzan in his diaper," Emily said.

It was friendship at first sight. Danny is more talkative, a boy through and through. Emily, who loves horses, is more quiet.  Together, it's full blown silliness.

"BFF's" the two shout together as they play.

Danny needs a quadruple organ transplant. A liver, small bowel, colon and pancreas. Emily, who comes to Nebraska from Texas has already had a triple organ transplant.

"She, more than anybody, knows what he's been through. They have that special bond," Danny's mom, Mary Anderson says.

Recently, Mary said she had the tough talk no parent ever wants to have with their child.

"He was afraid he was going to die. He had a dream he was going to die, and he was afraid he was never going to find somebody. And I said, 'What about Emily?" 

So that lead to a very special afternoon Wendesday at Nebraska Medicine. In the pediatric play room among family, nurses, and their favorite stuffed animals, Emily and Danny had a small friendship ceremony.

It was officiated by their favorite clown and a music therapist played the songs, "you've got a friend in me" and "everything is awesome" from the Lego movie.

Emily and Danny exchanged original vows, like 'I will laugh at all of Danny's jokes," and 'I will like all horses, especially the horses that Emily gets to ride.' They both vowed to be best friends for ever.

To help Emilyand Danny'sfamily's pay for their medical costs, click on the hyperlink for their names.