Ukulele-Playing Doctor Cheers Up Tiny Patient Battling Rare Disease.

Nearly every day, Dr. Paulo Martins brings his ukulele with him to work at Ribeirao Preto Clinical Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The kind young doctor often moves throughout the pediatric oncology unit, strumming the instrument as he sings to sick children who are in dire need of cheering up. One day, as Dr. Martins made his serenading rounds, a tiny girl heard his singing.


YouTube

Sophia Romao is only 17 months old, but already she’s spent way too much of her young life in the hospital. The little girl has Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, a rare immune system disease that must be treated with chemotherapy. The sweet toddler has already lost most of her hair, but her spirit remains as buoyant and sweet as ever.

sophia ramao dancing
YouTube

Sophia heard Dr. Martins singing from down the hall and went in search of his sweet tunes. When she finds him, she edges toward him the kind doctor, trailing her ever-present IV tube behind her. Like all children, Sophia doesn’t know quite how to dance yet, so she just bobs her little head and bends her knees in time to the music.

(And judging by her parents’ photos, Sophia still loves to dance today.)

sophia dance
Facebook

“I was going from one room to another and I noticed there was always a little one at the door,” Dr. Martins said. “She followed me wherever I went and when I left the last room, she was waiting for me in the corridor. She looked at me with curiosity and it was clear she wanted me to play a tune for her.”


YouTube

Dr. Martins moved into the room where Sophia was surrounded by smiling nurses and doctors who were completely charmed by the happy little girl. The doctor asked Sophia’s father, Julliano, for suggestions on her favorite music. When Dr. Martins began playing a popular tune called “I Know The Colour,” little Sophia couldn’t hold back her joy as she boogied along to his music.

When I sang it for Sophia, she danced and sang along and when the song ended she kept on looking at me for more. So, I played it again and she danced.

sophia dances dr paulo
Facebook

This is yet another example of the ways in which medical professionals go above and beyond in order to treat the entire person with their practice. Music can be cathartic and healing in so many ways.

Watch this beautiful scene play out below, and don’t forget to share to wish Sophia well.

Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.