28 May, 2017
Trump's spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said Melania requested a visit to the hospital herself, and that visiting the children was "very emotional" for her. Image credit: AP."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. The facility is the largest pediatric research center in Europe.
First Lady Melania Trump visited the Vatican's children's hospital to meet with patients. "She spoke to them in Italian, she signed bandages and she took lots of selfies", Grisham said.
The first daughter's meeting with the group caused some surprise when it was announced, given her father's strong stance against immigration, and attempts to limit the number of refugees entering the United States.
Hospital staff gave her a bouquet of flowers to show their appreciation.
Her trip to the hospital was just a brief one, but showed the first lady sincerely cares for others, especially those whose voices often go unheard.
Melania was welcomed to the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital - located a short distance from the Vatican, on the Janiculum Hill - by its president, Mariella Enoc. The affectionate welcome even wore off on the security detail who, nervous at first at the presence of so many people, eventually relaxed.
The president and first lady met Pope Francis earlier in the day and gave him artwork from Treasure Coast sculptor Geoffrey Smith. The president proceeded to meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella and prime minister Paolo Gentiloni.
Ivanka Trump visits the headquarters of the Sant'Egidio Community, located in Rome's Trastevere neighborhood.
"The work you do resonates strongly not just here, but throughout the world", she said.
Shortly thereafter, Trump and his entourage will abandon Brussels on Air Force One and fly back to Italy, where he is set to attend the G7 summit in the Sicilian town of Taormina on May 26 and 27.
