Watch Moment Doctor Finally Gets To Fulfill His Promise to Sick 4-Year-Old Patient
The moment a pediatrician danced for a sick little boy has gone viral for an achingly beautiful reason.
After a frightening brush with death, a 4-year-old boy from Germany named Gerrit watched with delight as one of his doctors fulfilled a promise to dance in celebration of Gerrit’s improving health.
Gerrit, who lives with his parents and older sister, has a genetic condition so rare, he is one of an estimated 10 children in the world to have it.
Gerrit was born with Microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type 1, a condition that leaves him with numerous developmental complications and a weakened immune system.
Gerrit spent four weeks in the intensive care ward of a German hospital after his parents noticed a rash covering his body. The boy’s condition went from bad to worse, his parents uncertain whether or not their boy would pull through.
Gerrit’s parents maintain a Facebook page for their son, which documents the daily struggles and triumphs of raising a child with MOPD type 1. They posted a video of one of Gerrit’s pediatricians, Dr. Mario Berwald, who had promised to dance for the boy once he was feeling better.
Berwald didn’t disappoint. Clad in bright blue scrubs, the doctor busted out some serious dance moves that left Gerrit and his family absolutely delighted.
The rest of the world has enjoyed the dance, too, as Gerrit’s video has already amassed nearly two million views on social media. According to German media outlet “Der Westen,” Berwald is an experienced dancer who has spent plenty of time polishing his moves.
The 41-year-old doctor explained how he’d wanted to bring a little laughter to a family who was under a considerable amount of stress.
“At the children’s intensive care unit, where death and dying are often so close, you sometimes need an outlet and may also have fun,” Berwald stated.
Gerrit’s mother, Silke, and stepfather, Steven, never expected the video would go viral. But now, people around the globe are meeting Gerrit and learning all about Gerrit’s world.
Gerrit’s parents took to social media to thank the hospital staff for their faithful care to a very sick little boy. Gerrit has since been released from the hospital, a moment nobody was sure would ever arrive.
They acknowledged the deep worry and anxiety their family had felt over the last four weeks. But in the midst of the hard, laughter is still one of humanity’s tried and true best remedies.
“We wholeheartedly thank you for fighting the last 4 weeks for Gerrit and never giving up on him,” they wrote to acknowledge Gerrit’s medical staff. “We cried a lot and laughed a lot and you always had an open ear for us.”
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