This 8-Year-Old In A Children's Hospital Loves Pickles, So A Chef Taught Her To Make Them

March 10, 2025

Today's good news story comes from Boston, Massachusetts.

Eight-year-old Emerson Bayse has always loved pickles, and during her stay at Boston Children’s Hospital, that love turned into a special experience that made her time in the hospital a little brighter.

When Emerson was first admitted as a heart transplant candidate, the hospital team fully embraced her new obsession. A child life specialist from the Association of Child Life Professionals even decorated her PICC line with pickle-themed stickers.

Emerson, who began her treatment at home in Medway, Massachusetts, was admitted full-time to Boston Children’s Hospital after school let out in June. That’s when she met Sarah Bryce, a chef and program manager of culinary services, who uses food to bring joy to young patients.

Bryce, who once received care at Boston Children’s as a child herself, is passionate about creating fun, hands-on culinary experiences for patients ranging in age from four to sixteen. She’s organized everything from cupcake decorating to bedside nachos—and now, in-room pickling.

After hearing from hospital staff about Emerson’s love for pickles, Bryce asked if she knew how they were made.

“She said, ‘No! I would have never thought about it,’ and I said, ‘What if we made some together?’” Bryce recalled. “Her eyes lit up and she was like, ‘We can do that?’”

And so they did. Together, they created seven different types of pickles, including cucumber, garlic, onions, and even watermelon. Bryce’s goal with the culinary program is simple: to bring a little joy to kids facing medical challenges.

That joy carried Emerson through her transplant journey. On January 16, 2025, she became the 403rd child to successfully receive a heart transplant at Boston Children’s Hospital. Less than two weeks later, on January 28, she was discharged—13 days after her transplant, 10 days after leaving the ICU, and nearly a year after learning she needed a new heart.

One month after her surgery, the Bayse family shared an uplifting update.

“It probably goes without saying that it’s been wonderful having Emerson home again,” her father, Greg, said. “She’s been enjoying catching up on many of the things that weren’t possible in the hospital: helping to cook food, walking the dog, playing outside… even going to the bathroom on her own is a seemingly novel, hard-won privilege!

“Overall, her energy level has been good—on many days, she is more energetic than she has been for years… We know that the best is yet to come! Thank you, everyone, for your ongoing thoughts, prayers, and support. We appreciate it!”

After a long and challenging journey, Emerson is back home, surrounded by love, and looking forward to the bright future ahead.