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Pediatrics April 18, 2018

Remembering Barbara Bush: The first lady who helped open Packard Children's

By Erin Digitale

Photos and a newspaper article captured the 1991 visit of first lady Barbara Bush at the opening of Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford.

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When Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford opened its doors in April 1991, first lady Barbara Bush was part of the festivities.

The hospital's archives feature heartwarming photos of Bush visiting with a few young patients, whose questions she answered with characteristic candor, as the Stanford Daily reported, including an exchange between 4-year-old Shannon Brace and the first lady:

Brace, the small vivacious girl perched on Bush's lap, pointed at Bush's pearl choker and asked, 'Why do you wear that necklace?' The first lady replied, 'To hide my wrinkles.'

Bush died April 17.

Photo by Carolyn Clebsch

About Stanford Medicine

Stanford Medicine is an integrated academic health system comprising the Stanford School of Medicine and adult and pediatric health care delivery systems. Together, they harness the full potential of biomedicine through collaborative research, education and clinical care for patients. For more information, please visit med.stanford.edu.

Erin-Digitale-headshot-July-2015

Senior science writer

Erin Digitale

Erin Digitale, PhD, is a senior science writer in the Office of Communications. She earned a bachelor’s of science in biochemistry from the University of British Columbia and a doctorate in nutrition from the University of California, Davis, where she helped develop a new animal model of Type 2 diabetes. She holds a certificate in science writing from UC Santa Cruz and writes for the Stanford Medicine about pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, nutrition, and children’s health policy. Erin’s writing has been recognized with several national-level awards from the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. When she isn’t settling down at her desk with a pile of scientific studies and a large cup of tea, you can find her swimming, experimenting in the kitchen or going on hikes with her kids.

digitale@stanford.edu