Drew Esposito amazes everyone he meets with his strength and resilience, especially in the face of everything he’s going through.
At just 4 years old, the little boy is fighting for his life. On Christmas Eve, Drew was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor. The next day, he underwent a 12-hour surgery to remove it. And his dad, Jeremy, who calls him “Super Drew,” says he’s been fighting ever since – with a smile on his face.
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The tiny warrior spent his summer undergoing five rounds of chemotherapy at Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, where nurse Taylor Bergman says he’s captured everyone’s hearts.
“It was his willingness to be a kid from the very beginning,” Taylor said. “Kind of a spark on the unit.”
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Indeed, Drew is determined to keep having fun, even in the hospital. In August, he mentioned to Taylor how he and his parents were going to have a Nerf gun fight in his room and suggested she join in as well. So, Taylor recruited fellow nurse Meg Garl. The two, suited up in gowns and masks, armed themselves for battle during their lunch break.
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When they snuck up James Bond style and opened the door to Drew’s room, they found the little boy ready and waiting in a superhero costume, Nerf gun poised to shoot. Thus began a 30-minute long shootout, with Drew coming out as the winner.
His parents couldn’t be more grateful to the nurses who went above and beyond to brighten his stay. Now other young patients are asking for their own battles!
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“It’s a testament to what these nurses are doing every day,” Jeremy said.
Drew’s mom, Sondra, added, “They come in and act like they haven’t been working for 10 hours and play games and do the Nerf gun wars like the battle that you saw.”
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But to Taylor and Meg, it’s the least they can do.
“When it comes to our kids, they’re going through so much,” Meg said. “I think a really great part of what we do as nurses is we try every day to at least get them to smile or laugh or have fun.”
Nurses are their own kind of superhero. It takes a truly special person to do what they do. We’ll be keeping Drew and his family in our hearts as they continue their battle with childhood cancer. Keep fighting, Drew! You can help the family with their medical expenses by donating here.
Watch the cutest Nerf war ever in the video below. Share to celebrate all the caring nurses out there!
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