First Lady Melania Trump visited the Vatican’s children’s hospital to meet with patients. She took photographs with them and even painted pictures with the children. After she had left the hospital, she received news that one of the little boys had found a donor for his heart transplant.
Melania spent some time visiting a group of young patients at the Bambino Gesu (Baby Jesus) pediatric hospital. Melania and President Donald Trump met with Pope Francis earlier this week at the Vatican. The 47-year-old First Lady also toured the hospital’s cardiac intensive unit and the recreation room, where she painted pictures with children from nine different countries, who also took advantage of the situation to snap some selfies with Melania.
First Lady Melania Trump visited the children at Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital
The Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital, which is run by the Catholic Church, cares for about 600 patients from all over the world and it is the largest pediatric research hospital in Europe.
“My visit to Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital today was very moving,” said Melania in a statement, according to Daily Mail. “To spend time speaking to and coloring with children who have such a positive spirit despite illness was an amazing gift.”
Melania appeared to cross herself while standing in front of the Madonna statue, and although she grew in the predominantly Catholic Slovenia, she was not raised as a Catholic. She married Donald Trump, Presbyterian-raised, in an Episcopal church, and ever since she was attended services with him. They are also sending their son Barron to an Episcopal school in Washington, D.C.
Melania, who appeared to be somber during her meeting with Pope Francis, looked much more happy and relaxed as she sat down with the group of kids from different countries -including Nepal and Iraq- at the hospital, some of which handed her artwork they had made especially for the First Lady.
Melania learned that one of the little boys had found a donor
Melania added in her statement that she will never forget the time she spent with the little ones in the Intensive Care Unit and added that she’d pray for them every day. The First Lady thanked the doctors, nurses and hospital staff, who do such a beautiful and critical work. At the children’s hospital, Melania had the chance to meet a young boy who was waiting for a donor, and when she landed in Belgium, she received fantastic news.
“Upon landing in Belgium, I learned a young boy and his family who had been waiting for a heart transplant was informed that the hospital has found a donor,” said Melania, according to Dialy Mail. “I read a book and held hands with this particular little one just a few hours ago, and now my own heart is filled with joy over this news.”
Ivanka met with victims of human trafficking in Rome
Meanwhile, Ivanka Trump, who also joined her father for the world tour, met with victims of human trafficking and hosted a meeting with members of the Community of Sant’Egidio, a social justice and anti-poverty group affiliated with the Catholic Church.
Ivanka noted she wanted to meet with several women who have been freed from human traffickers so she could learn about their struggles and how they’re building their lives after that.
President Trump’s daughter spoke to reporters at the headquarters of the Sant’Egidio Community, in Rome. She told reporters the liberated African women she was going to meet shortly were a testament to strength, faith, and perseverance in the face of unimaginable adversity. Officials from Sant’Egidio Community said Ivanka was to meet with several women from Nigeria who had been trafficked into prostitution before becoming liberated in Rome. One Eritrean woman was also invited to the conversation.
Ivanka has been an active supporter against human trafficking, and last week she hosted a bipartisan roundtable on human trafficking at the White House.
“I was inspired to visit Sant’Egidio and learn about their remarkable work with women who survived the evils of human trafficking he and for those still suffering,” said Ivanka in a photo she shared on Instagram. “Hearing directly from the advocates, counselors, and victims reaffirms that we must work together to address this critical issue.”
After Melania had finished her visit at Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital, she boarded Air Force One with the President at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in Rome and headed to Brussels, Belgium.
Source: Daily Mail