First lady Laura Bush visited Thursday with Iran Brown, the 13-year-old critically wounded in the Washington-area sniper attacks.
She also treated children at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington to a White House tour -- from one of her dog's perspective.
Mrs. Bush continued a tradition dating back to former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy with a Christmastime visit to patients the hospital.
One of her two co-hosts was Iran, who was critically wounded when he was shot outside Benjamin Tasker Middle School in Bowie, Md., two months ago.
Iran, who was discharged more than a month ago, walked through the hospital with Mrs. Bush. He showed no signs of the bullet that ripped through his internal organs Oct. 7.
"You look like you're doing great!" Mrs. Bush told Iran. "Bless you darling."
Iran appeared a bit bashful at the attention. With his thumbs hooked to his pockets, he said little during his visit with the first lady.
Mrs. Bush also visited with several hospitalized children, including 7-year-old Kyle Wood, his leg in a sling and his room decorated with holiday signs and symbols.
An aide hoisted first dog Barney up to Woods' bedside so he could pet the Scottish terrier.
Santa Claus, who accompanied Mrs. Bush, handed a book by artist Robert Rauschenberg to Kyle.
Later, Mrs. Bush sat with about 100 children and presented a video of a White House tour shot from a camera attached to Barney as he scurried among the mansion's grand decorations.
The "Barney-cam," as Mrs. Bush called it, documented the dog playing with ornaments and frolicking in the snow on the South Lawn. Also featured was a showdown over a bone between Barney and the Bushes' other dog, Spot.
Asked by a young girl what the first lady would do if she were a superhero, Mrs. Bush responded, "If I had a superpower, it would be to make everybody well."
On the Net:
Barney-cam: http://www.whitehouse.gov
She also treated children at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington to a White House tour -- from one of her dog's perspective.
Mrs. Bush continued a tradition dating back to former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy with a Christmastime visit to patients the hospital.
One of her two co-hosts was Iran, who was critically wounded when he was shot outside Benjamin Tasker Middle School in Bowie, Md., two months ago.
Iran, who was discharged more than a month ago, walked through the hospital with Mrs. Bush. He showed no signs of the bullet that ripped through his internal organs Oct. 7.
"You look like you're doing great!" Mrs. Bush told Iran. "Bless you darling."
Iran appeared a bit bashful at the attention. With his thumbs hooked to his pockets, he said little during his visit with the first lady.
Mrs. Bush also visited with several hospitalized children, including 7-year-old Kyle Wood, his leg in a sling and his room decorated with holiday signs and symbols.
An aide hoisted first dog Barney up to Woods' bedside so he could pet the Scottish terrier.
Santa Claus, who accompanied Mrs. Bush, handed a book by artist Robert Rauschenberg to Kyle.
Later, Mrs. Bush sat with about 100 children and presented a video of a White House tour shot from a camera attached to Barney as he scurried among the mansion's grand decorations.
The "Barney-cam," as Mrs. Bush called it, documented the dog playing with ornaments and frolicking in the snow on the South Lawn. Also featured was a showdown over a bone between Barney and the Bushes' other dog, Spot.
Asked by a young girl what the first lady would do if she were a superhero, Mrs. Bush responded, "If I had a superpower, it would be to make everybody well."
On the Net:
Barney-cam: http://www.whitehouse.gov