Families from across Central Florida walked the red carpet for a V.I.P. (Very Important Patient) event at Nemours Children's Hospital on Tuesday morning, Oct. 22, 2013. The party was in honor of the hospital's one-year anniversary and it celebrated the specialized pediatric care now available in the region — care that's been transforming lives since opening day.

Nemours Children's Hospital saw its first patient on Oct. 22, 2012, in Orlando's Lake Nona Medical City. Prior to opening, Nemours focused on recruiting specialists who offered care that was not previously available in Central Florida. It is one of the reasons why in its first year, Nemours Children's Hospital treated patients from 20 countries, 41 states and nearly every county in Florida.

"I am proud that the specialized care we offer is helping Central Florida become a destination for world-class children's health care in addition to world-class vacations," said Roger Oxendale, CEO of Nemours Children's Hospital and senior vice president of The Nemours Foundation. "It is our honor and privilege to care for children and families from Central Florida and beyond."

At the V.I.P celebration, families were photographed and showered with enthusiastic questions from "paparazzi," who were actually Nemours Associates behind cameras wearing press hats. The event also included a 9-year-old emcee who wore a tuxedo, top hat and tails, and led the crowd in singing happy birthday.

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