6-year-old cancer patient with chest pain asked for one small stop on the way to the ER — the doctor’s response made it unforgettable
Health crises involving children are overwhelming for families, especially when they land them at the door of the emergency room. A six-year-old was rushed to the ER by his parents after he faced chest pain, following his diagnosis with acute leukemia. However, when the paramedics arrived, the little boy had only one unusual request, and they obliged without a second thought. The mother, Natalie McGee, shared the heartwarming moment with KOCO 5 on Monday, December 29, 2025, expressing her gratitude to the paramedics for putting a smile on her son's face during a tough situation.
An Oklahoma mother had to call the paramedics when her six-year-old experienced sudden chest pain in the middle of the night. The little boy had been diagnosed with acute leukemia a month ago and had to be rushed to the local emergency room after showing signs of an irregular heartbeat and chest pain. When the paramedics arrived to take the kid to Oklahoma Children's Hospital, OU Health in Oklahoma City, the boy made an unusual request to the paramedics. According to McGee, her son wanted to make a stop at the nearest McDonald's to get his "happy meal." While the mother was unsure whether the request could be fulfilled, a paramedic immediately spoke to the doctor, who allowed them to stop by the food joint to get the boy his meal.
A 2022 study published in PubMed and authored by Kevin Ka Shing Chan et al. surveyed 536 university students to measure their experiences of compassion from others. The findings revealed that individuals who encountered compassion were receptive to love and kindness. The study also noted that these kinds of gestures can have a huge impact in reducing psychological distress and finding deeper meaning in life. While the act of stopping by McDonald's to get the kid his order may have been a small act of kindness to the paramedics, for the child, who had already been going through a difficult medical situation, it made his day.
The ambulance then rushed to McDonald's, taking the boy on a stretcher. He ordered his favorite cheeseburger Happy Meal with extra fries and a Sprite. The mother, who was happy for her son, revealed that he was in shock. "He was completely stunned. He kept asking if it was real, if this was actually happening. That one small act of kindness turned one of the scariest nights of our lives into a moment of pure magic," she told the outlet. The mother expressed that her son could cherish this memory for the rest of his life. Indeed, this story is a reminder of how compassion and humanity can melt hearts even in the darkest moments.