The past week or so, Dolly Parton has been doing press to promote her new album Pure & Simple. When she stopped by The Today Show, something unexpected happened.
Before her segment on Kathy Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb’s hour, the wine-loving hosts covered a story about nine-year-old Zion Harvey, whose hands and feet were amputated when he was two-years-old due to a horrific infection.
Last year, Zion became the first child to receive a double hand transplant. After going through several weeks of hand therapy at an inpatient rehabilitation center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Zion is now able to throw a football, feed himself, dress himself, and hold his little sister.
The Today Show caught up with him to find out how his life has changed since receiving his hands. Zion made headlines recently when he threw out the first pitch at the Baltimore Orioles game, something he’s dreamed of his whole life.
When asked what his favorite thing about his new hands are, he immediately said, “Just being able to wrap them around my mom.”
Parton, who was standing off-camera, lost it. “Oh my Lord, that just got me,” she said, wiping away tears. Afraid of messing up her mascara, Kathy lee quickly ran to Dolly’s aid with tissue.
Watch the video below.
