In a video that’s gone viral on social media, a doctor at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago dressed as the most famous Wookiee from a galaxy far, far away to deliver some good news to one of his patients.
According to WLS-TV, cardiologist Philip Thrush, MD, pledged to one of his patients, a 15-year-old devoted Star Wars fan named Austin, that he would don a Chewbacca costume when the day came that a donor heart was available for the boy’s needed transplant surgery.
Thrush fulfilled that promise on Saint Patrick’s Day. Speaking Shyriiwook, the Wookiee language, Thrush surprised Austin in his hospital room and delivered the good news that the wait was over.
Austin underwent surgery that night and his family reports he is recovering nicely.
A video capturing the moment Austin received word of his new heart was posted on Facebook by Lurie Children’s Hospital. It has over 170,000 views and has been shared more than 3,600 times.
Austin’s next attempt at going viral involves a different fantastic universe. He created a Twitter account to lobby Marvel Studios to stage a special screening of the upcoming film Avengers: Infinity War at Lurie Children’s Hospital, giving young patients who can’t leave the healthcare facility a chance to see the highly anticipated blockbuster.
Main image credit: JeffChristiansen, via Flickr, Chewbacca copyright Lucasfilm and Disney.
