We all want to see no child to be in hospitals. They will have the opportunity to play and learn in a safe environment, as every child deserves.
Sadly, this didn’t happen to 8-year-old Jackson McKie. This boy spent much of his short life in the hospital.
When he was small, a cyst was found in his brain. The little boy was born with chronic hydrocephalus – accumulation of spinal cord fluid in the brain.
He got in and out of hospitals more than any child should. On this journey, his friends always remained the same: his mother, his father, and his little teddy bear ‘Little Baby’.
Fortunately, Jackson is blessed with amazing doctors. One of them was Daniel McKinley, who has been taking care of Jackson since he emerged into the world.
During Jackson’s last surgery, he had a special request from his doctor just before he was put under anesthesia.
Daniel could not refuse the boy he had helped for eight years. So without even asking Jackson’s parents, he did something that wasn’t in a surgeon’s handbook.
After his decision, Daniel was praised all over the world for his moving compassion.
“I thought it would make some people smile, that was my only intention”, McKinley said.
“I’m glad others enjoyed it”.
Daniel told the nurses to prepare a small operating table.
First he operated on Jackson, but when he finished he decided he had more work to do.
Without hesitation
Before Jackson was sedated, he asked Daniel if he could also dissect his little bear, ‘Little Baby’. Not hesitating for a second, the thoughtful doctor accepted the task.
Jackson’s father had only good things to say about Daniel.
This proves that he is not only an amazing surgeon, but also an amazing person.
“He’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met”, said Jackson’s father, Rick.
When Jackson woke up from the surgery, he was happy when seeing that Little Baby had been stitched up the same way as him.
This was the first time Dr. Daniel operated on a teddy bear, but something tells us it won’t be the last.
After the surgery, he shared his story on social media, and was praised for his efforts.
Next to the picture he wrote:
“The patient asked if I could fix teddy bear before putting him to sleep.. how could I say no?”.
Dr. Daniel McNeely’s wonderful gesture spread online like wildfire, with people all over the world praising him.
Patient asks if I can also fix teddy bear just before being put off to sleep… how could I say no? pic.twitter.com/WOKFc5zr91
— P. Daniel McNeely (@pdmcneely) September 30, 2018
