Dolly Parton Visits Children’s Hospital For Dedication to ‘Chemo Hero’ Niece Who Survived Cancer
Dolly Parton paid a visit to Monroe Carrel Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, along with her niece, Hannah Dennison, who was there to be honored at the dedication for the new Hannah Dennison Butterfly Garden. Dennison, who survived Lukemia as a child, will turn 30 on Sunday (May 20). Parton was there along with Dennison's parents, Rachel George and Richard Dennison.
“This really is a special day for all of us,” Parton said, addressing the audience. “We’ve been really looking forward to this. Of course, we are so happy to have our Hannah...For five years, we didn’t know exactly if we’d be keeping her or not. But Hannah now stands here as our ‘Chemo Hero.’” Parton said. Dennison's diagnosis came 26 years ago, when Dennison was a small child. "This was just something that I especially wanted to do because Hannah is so dear to us."
Parton wrote the song "Chemo Hero" for her recent children's album I Believe in You, and dedicated the tune to Dennison.
After the ceremony, Parton and Dennison visited patients in the hospital for a question and answer time. Parton was asked what made her blush, and the singer responded that it wasn't easy to embarrass her, as she's not a shy person. When asked by another patient what makes her cry, Parton said that's an emotion that she's more prone to.
"... I cry at ballgames,” Parton said. “I’m just a sap.”
Last year, the country music legend donated one million dollars to the hospital.
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