The Sweet Story Behind a Children's Doctor Dressing as Chewbacca to Surprise His Patient

A patient at the Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago had been waiting to receive a heart transplant for months. While waiting on a heart to become available for his surgery, Austin asked his doctor, Dr. Philip Thrush, if he could deliver the good news in costume if and when he found out. More specifically, Austin wanted Dr. Thrush to deliver the news dressed as Chewbacca. Yes, from Star Wars.

Well, Dr. Thrush delivered on that promise. On March 17, "Chewbacca" paid a visit to Austin's room to let him know that a heart had become available. In the video above, the doctor pokes his head around the curtain as Austin sits stunned on his bed. As he's processing everything, Austin exclaims, "Wait, wait, wait . . . we got a heart?" He hilariously adds, "Holy balls!" Watch the sweet surprise go down in the moving video above.