HOSPITAL THROWS 8-YEAR-OLD HEART TRANSPLANT PATIENT A PICKLE PARTY TO SOOTH HER CRAVINGS

Pickles are a huge deal to 8-year-old Emerson Bayse, especially because she is currently waiting for a heart transplant at Boston Children's Hospital. As she got ready for the treatment, she started to crave pickles, which is a typical occurrence for cardiac patients who are on fluid restriction and frequently acquire a desire for salty foods. Thankfully, the hospital's culinary services program manager and chef, Chef Sarah Bryce, took her cravings seriously and organized a "pickle party" in Emerson's hospital room.

Emerson began her treatment at home in Medway, Massachusetts, when she was barely 7 years old. When summer break came in June, she moved to Boston Children's Hospital for inpatient care. There, she met Bryce, who uses cooking and cuisine to cheer up sick children while they are in the hospital.

At Boston Children's, Bryce, who is currently pursuing a dietetics degree, used to wander the same hospital hallways as a patient. She felt motivated to give back because she can still clearly recall the special times she spent with the staff. Today, from bedside pizza parties and cupcake painting to breakfast waffles, nachos, and now pickles, she creates customized culinary experiences based on what kids want. “I’ve worked in these rooms, and I’ve seen what a difference it is for a child to eat—just trying to get them to eat something,” said Bryce. “It sounds so simple, right? But it really can be a huge difference.”

Emerson's doctors sent Bryce an email outlining her pickle cravings and requesting her assistance. She decided to ask the young patient if she was aware of the pickle-making process after speaking with Emerson's clinical nutritionist. "No!" she exclaimed. "I never would have considered it," I responded, adding, "What if we made some together?" Bryce remembers. "She said, 'We can accomplish that,' as her eyes brightened." "We can accomplish anything," Bryce retorted. "If you say you want to do anything, I'm going to do my best to do it."

Bryce located a recipe, assembled the required tools, made the brine, and delivered everything straight to Emerson's room. They prepared seven varieties of pickles together, including ones made with watermelon, cucumbers, garlic, onions, and Bayse's preferred Italian dressing. They even created pickle juice ice cubes, which were offered to employees and guests who came in for a salty treat along with lemonade. The pickles were all gone by the time the pickle party ended. "It was the best two hours of my life," Bryce remarked when asked how the day went.

"The fact that they're so supportive of just knowing what the kids are interested in and like to do and then just going with that notion, they've really normalized the experience for Emerson here at Children's Hospital," said Allison Bayse, the patient's mother, who is eight years old. "She's taking it and trying to give it back to the other kids here in the building," the appreciative mother continued. "She's modeling from these adults their care and interest in her."

Emerson hasn't allowed her health condition to stop her from having a good time. She has discovered methods to involve others in her activities while she is in the hospital. She set up a table with blue candy and Goldfish crackers with an underwater motif when the hospital unveiled its lobby aquarium. She has even earned the moniker "unit magician" for delighting hospital personnel and patients with her magic shows as "The Magnificent Cardio."

Judging by the pictures, it looks like Emerson had a great time at her pickle party, even with a chef's hat!