UVA Health hosts annual Lights of Love

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - UVA Health hosted its annual Lights of Love tree lighting event Thursday, December 5, at the children’s hospital.

It serves as a fundraiser for UVA Hospital Auxiliary.

Grace Riedl is the one being recognized in this year’s Lights of Love at UVA Health.

“I just like how I can share my story with other NICU parents,” Riedl said.

Riedl was born in UVA’s NICU at 27 weeks old weighing just 2 pounds.

She overcame a brain bleed and a nonfunctioning lung and was at UVA Children’s Hospital giving others hope.

“It gives them an idea like oh she was in the NICU and my kids gonna make it as well. It just keeps them positive like oh my kids gonna make it through,” Riedl said.

The hospital recognized Riedl and her family by letting her light the tree followed by some Christmas carols from students at Charlottesville High School.

“To know that there’s other kids in the NICU going through the same thing I had or maybe worse...I would just say keep going,” Riedl said. “The doctors will take great care of you...I feel honored and I’m thankful of all the doctors who took care of me.”

After the tree was lit, Riedl spent time taking pictures with Santa and opening some gifts with her family.

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