Duke Children's

A fleet of cheerful yellow school buses made a special stop at Duke University Hospital to brighten Elmer Bonilla-Rodriguez’s day! Elmer, 19, couldn’t stop smiling as the buses looped around the hospital, honking and spreading joy. 🚌

Elmer, who’s bravely facing Krabbe disease, has been in the hospital for a while, so Duke Health and Durham Public Schools joined forces to bring some of his favorite teachers, counselors, and principals to visit him—on his beloved school buses! The Duke team got creative and turned his hospital bed into a ‘school bus’ so Elmer could join in on the fun and greet everyone.

Elmer’s positivity and constant smile inspire everyone around him, no matter what. 💙

Duke Health | Durham Public Schools

So grateful to the USA Basketball Foundation and Author/Illustrator Kadir Nelson for spending time with our patients and families last week. From sharing stories to creating smiles, their visit brought so much joy, inspiration, and encouragement to our patients and families. Thank you for making such a meaningful impact at Duke Children's.💙

The Art of Kadir Nelson