INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - The National Kidney Foundation of Indiana had a hard time figuring out how to celebrate its 50th year.
"We decided what better place to have a birthday party then with the kids," Suzie Hedrick a nurse at Riley Hospital Dialysis said.
"I miss you," a little boy on dialysis offers as Billy the Kidney entered the room.
There were hugs, goodie bags and kazzos....Javion has been at Riley Dialysis longer than anyone currently in the room.
"They help me. Without them I wouldn't be here," he admitted.
At 14, Kiera is the oldest.
"She's here 4 hours a day. Three times a week. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Until she gets a kidney this is where she will continue to be," her mother Michelle Bradshaw said.
Kiera has undergone 200 surgeries over the last two years she told WTHR.
All the while she has literally been waiting just to get on the waiting list.
"They don't get to experience normal. What it's like to go to school everyday and be with their peers," Hedrick looking all across the room.
"Hi," two year old Josiah exclaimed while stomping his feet in his hospital bed. For him the nurses are his peers which becomes readily obvious as the child plays with Hedrick.
"Wash your face....wash my face. Wash Suzie's face," she sings as Josiah rubs his washrag in her face and laughs.
"Even this little guy. Eventually we will get you a kidney," she says as she gives Josiah a warm hug.