Kylie's Kids: Lexi And Sam Reunite

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- When children are in the hospital for months at a time, they develop strong relationships with some of the staff.

That is especially true for Child Life Specialists, who work so closely with the kids.

This week we were able to reunite 8 year-old Lexi Kirkwood with her favorite specialist.

There is a lot of laughter when Lexi and Sam get together. Laughter has always been a big part of their friendship, even though the circumstances were far from funny.

"I met her when she came to Children's here on the cancer and blood disorders clinic," said Sam Schackman, a Child Life Specialist at Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. "My job here is to help make the hospital experience a little easier."

Lexi was diagnosed two years ago with kidney cancer. Sam was her Child Life Specialist during her time at Children's.

"Lexi would come to clinic here quite a bit," Sam said. "So we got to develop quite a really cool relationship just seeing her as she would come here."

Most of their time together involved arts and crafts.

"I think you're super creative," Sam said. "You have a lot of great ideas for art projects."

So it makes sense that their latest visit was full of a lot of color and creativity.

"I made it in Packers colors, too," Sam said.

Despite growing up in Minnesota, Lexi is a proud Packers fan.

"You better not put any purple and yellow in there," Lexi said.

But she does think Sam is pretty great.

"Funny, fun and awesome," Lexi said.

"I think you're so caring and have such a kind heart," Sam said.

This visit may be even sweeter because Lexi is now cancer-free.

"That's one of the most rewarding parts is seeing all the work you've done, Lexi," Sam said. "Because you're just so awesome and you've done a lot of hard work to be able to get here today."

Lexi had her six month scans and just found out they are clean.