Melania Trump had only praise for the families and “courageous kids” she met during her trip Tuesday to the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee.
“#BeBest will continue to bring attention to NAS. A very big thank you to @VUMCchildren & staff for an informative & moving visit. It is a joy spending time w/ such courageous kids & to witness the strength of families who must deal with these tough situations,” the first lady captioned her post on Instagram, along with a handful of snaps from her trip.
The visit was part of Trump’s “Be Best” campaign that she launched in May. During the trip, she “participated in a roundtable discussion on neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), which was led by TeamHOPE,” according to a White House press release.
US First Lady Melania Trump plays with patients Essence Overton (2nd-L), 4 years old, and Natalayah Fields (R), 3 years old, following a roundtable discussion on neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) during a visit to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee, July 24, 2018, as part of her “Be Best” campaign. (Photo credit: LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
Later, she got to spend time with some of the patients, stopping by the playroom to interact with the kids.
US First Lady Melania Trump speaks with patient Essence Overton, 4 years old, following a roundtable discussion on neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) during a visit to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee, July 24, 2018, as part of her “Be Best” campaign. (Photo credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
“Thank you to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and to the dedicated staff at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital for hosting me today, and for sharing your important work and research on NAS,” the first lady shared. “Through Be Best, I look forward to working with medical centers around the country in our effort to raise awareness and educate people on the real dangers of NAS.”
US First Lady Melania Trump plays with patients Essence Overton (L), 4 years old, and Natalayah Fields (R), 3 years old, following a roundtable discussion on neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) during a visit to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee, July 24, 2018, as part of her “Be Best” campaign. (Photo credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
“I also want to thank the families and patients who have shared their personal stories on this difficult but important issue– it is through honest and real dialogue that we can remove the stigma of addiction and have a positive impact on those suffering from this condition,” Trump added.