Elmo, Cookie Monster bring cheer to kids with serious illnesses

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Some special friends are spread a little cheer for local kids struggling with serious illnesses. Elmo and Cookie Monster from Sesame Street Live visited patients at Dell Children's Medical Center on Thursday.

Parents and patients appreciate the special events the hospital organizes.  They brighten the days for kids dealing with doctors, treatments, pain and still trying to keep up with school.

"With the illness you never know one day to the next if he's going to be in the hospital or if he's going to be in school so it's important to make each day count," explained Patricia Perez who's 11-year-old received a new kidney in 2010.

Her son Tomas has Renal Dysplasia and is in and out of hospitals frequently.  When some of his friends from Sesame Street Live stopped by the hospital it was more than just a start studded event for him. 

 "He likes cookies so much and he's all funny because he's trying to do stuff he doesn't have any thumbs and he's doing poses for pictures," said Tomas.

Elmo and Cookie Monster spent a couple hours with the kids at Dell Children's Blood and Cancer Center.

"It's very important you know , it just gets to you cause he's had such a hard life and the little things people do around here, it just brings tears to your eyes because they make dreams come true that I couldn't normally do for him," said Perez.

It's the same story for Monica Shaw and her one-year-old son Curtayvis. He who was born with a tumor on his leg.

 "I don't want him sad you know and and stuff I just want him happy you know because I know he's got to beat this, beat it through it, we just do fun stuff together," explained Shaw.
   

Sesame Street Live "Cant Stop Singing" is performing at the Erwin Center through Feb. 17.

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