School program helps patients maintain sense of normalcy

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Every day when Fiza Youivis hears Lisa Black knock on the door, she shouts, "I'm ready for school!"

Recently, Black entered Fiza's hospital room at the University of Virginia Children's Hospital with a stack of books, worksheets and a fat yellow pencil. She pushed aside a pink, fluffy teddy bear and began guiding Fiza through writing letters and numbers.

"I know how to do it!" Fiza said, dragging the pencil to form a number seven.

Fiza, 5, loves the color pink, the Disney movie "Frozen" and going to the library. She hasn't been able to go to the library, though, or start her kindergarten year in Fairfax, because she is waiting for a heart transplant at the hospital.