Bidens visit patients at Children’s National Hospital

WASHINGTON — (AP) — President Joe Biden and his spouse, first girl Jill Biden, visited Kids’s Nationwide Hospital on the Friday earlier than Christmas to go to with sufferers and skim a narrative.

Sitting in entrance of a towering Christmas tree, the president helped maintain the guide whereas the primary girl learn “The Snowy Day,” an award-winning story a few boy named Peter and his adventures within the snow. This yr is the sixtieth anniversary of the guide, written by Ezra Jack Keats.

Jill Biden famous that Washington “had slightly, tiny little bit of snow” Friday as temperatures plunged. “Did anyone see it?” she requested.

When the story talked about Peter and snow angels, she requested how most of the sufferers had ever made them. “I liked to try this,” she stated.

When completed studying, the primary girl stated, “Merry Christmas and comfortable holidays all people. Thanks for coming and listening to me learn and have the president maintain the guide.”

“That’s my job,” he added.

Biden and his spouse additionally met in personal with pediatric sufferers and their households. The White Home stated in addition they thanked medical doctors, nurses and employees, together with on the hospital’s cardiac intensive care unit.

Jill Biden’s go to continued an 80-year annual custom relationship to Bess Truman of first women bringing vacation cheer to kids who’re too unwell to be at residence on Christmas. President Biden joined his spouse final yr, making the primary go to by a sitting president.

Kurt Newman, the hospital’s president and CEO, stated he requested the president final yr to return this yr and exclaimed, “Look, he did!”

“It is so essential to all of our households, our youngsters and our employees as a result of there’ve been loads of challenges,” Newman stated of the go to. ”We stay up for seeing you subsequent yr.”

Earlier than leaving, the president informed dad and mom within the viewers to “be robust.” He stated his household has spent loads of time in kids’s hospitals, too. “It is gonna be OK,” Biden stated.

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