Melania Trump makes Christmas visit to children's hospital
By DARLENE SUPERVILLE, Associated Press
Dec 13, 2018 11:48 AM CST
First lady Melania Trump, greets children released from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and their parents at Children's National Health System, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)   (Associated Press)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Melania Trump is keeping up the first ladies' tradition of a Christmas season visit to a Washington children's hospital.

Mrs. Trump toured part of the neonatal intensive care unit at Children's National Health System on Thursday and met with families and children treated there.

The two boys and one girl she met ranged in age from 16 months to 6 years old. All three were born premature, at 24 weeks. Each weighed about 1 pound (0.45 kilograms) at birth.

The first lady also planned to read a book to patients. The White House says she chose author Todd Zimmerman's "Oliver the Ornament," a story about a family's cherished Christmas ornaments.

The tradition of a Christmastime visit to Children's National dates back more than 60 years to first lady Bess Truman.

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