Subhi Agrawal
After making a surprise appearance on the red carpet at the event on Saturday, Oct. 5, Meghan Markle noticed a former CHLA cancer patient named Ella, who was with her parents, Megan and Marcus, and her younger brother, Francis. An attendee at the gala reported that Meghan approached Ella, knelt down to her height, asked her name, and complimented her beauty. She then introduced herself to Ella’s family and took photos of this spontaneous encounter.
“At One Point Ella’s Mom And Meghan Had A Relatable Moment”
During the event, Meghan had a brief conversation with Ella’s mother, who is also named Megan, where they discussed having two young children. Meghan shared that her two kids were at home.
In a report by People, an attendee said, “It was incredibly sweet, and at one point Ella’s mom and Meghan had a relatable moment about having two young kids.”
“Meghan was lovely, and there was no pretense about her. She was smiling and happy to shake hands with anyone who approached her,” the guest added.
Ella was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma at the age of two in 2020, prompting her family to relocate from Virginia to California for treatment at CHLA. According to CHLA, Ella has had no evidence of the disease since 2021 and officially completed her treatment in June 2022. Ella’s mother, Megan, stated that the family believes “the best decision we made was to come to CHLA.”
Meeting the Duchess of Sussex wasn’t Ella’s only encounter with fame; she was also chosen by Justin Timberlake to join him onstage at the CHLA gala in 2022. During the performance of “Lovely Day,” he held her in his arms.
Meghan Markle Dines with Celebrities at CHLA Gala
At the event on Oct. 5, Meghan was seated with CHLA CEO Paul S. Viviano and shared a table with Jimmy Kimmel and his wife, Molly McNearney.
“She was so approachable and accessible,” an attendee said referring to Meghan. “It was refreshing.”
Although her appearance at the gala was unexpected, Meghan has been a longtime supporter of CHLA. On March 21, she visited the hospital to lead a Literally Healing session, using her acting skills to bring storytime to life for the children.
“Children were laughing and singing as the Duchess turned into character with every page as she read patient favorite books like Rosie the Riveter, Pete the Cat and I Saw a Cat,” according to a statement, Meghan delivered animated readings during the session, incorporating voice inflections and gestures to enhance the storytelling experience. Excitedly showcasing the cover of “Rosie Revere, Engineer,” she shared with the group, “This is one of my favorites,” as seen in a video from the visit.
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