LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Scrubs, signs, streamers, cleats and costumes filled the lobby at Norton Children's Hospital on Tuesday.
Thomas Norris, with a new heart beating in his chest, walked out into the crowd of hospital staff cheering him on. His favorite soccer team, Loucity FC, was there to meet him too.
"It's finally here," Thomas's mother, Katherine Norris, said.
After 103 days in the hospital, his parents have some relief as their brave boy takes his first steps into a new chapter of his life.
"I'm really proud of him," Katherine Norris said. "It's been hard. Especially on the days where he's been in pain, he's had a lot of things going on. We just couldn't take the pain away for him. But he's obviously doing great."
She laughed a little after saying it, looking down at her son, a hand on his head, and a purple cape draped over his chair.
Thomas was Norton Children's 100th successful pediatric heart transplant. But Thomas is leaving the hospital having broken another record.
According to his surgeon, Bahaaldin Alsoufi, the boy's experience with a heart pump will be written up so other children can benefit from one too.
"He's probably holding the record right now for the child who has maintained this device the longest—for 61 days, until his heart transplant became available," the surgeon said.
Beyond medical trailblazing and local milestones, Thomas also earned some of his idols' respect.
"The smile that he still has, it's so inspiring to us," LouCity midfielder Paolo Delpiccolo said. "I know he's a fan of the team, but it's us that are really the fan of him."
With new fans and a new heart, Thomas's familiar smile goes back to lighting his regular life.
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