Murrieta Teacher Pays Special Visit to Hospitalized Student

A Murrieta family expressed its gratitude Friday to a special teacher.

Like his classmates, 5-year-old Lincoln Davis started school recently at Cole Canyon Elementary; however, he was hospitalized this week at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital due to kidney problems.

That did not deter his new kindergarten teacher, Nicholas Van Deusen, from checking up on him.

Van Deusen arrived at the hospital for a visit. While he was there, he read Lincoln a book.

"It was so wonderful to have Mr. Van Deusen visit him. He made Lincoln's day!" said mom, Carissa Davis. "Lincoln woke up the next morning talking about the bats that were in the book Mr. Van Deusen read to him."

Davis, who is staying with her son in the hospital, said the family is hopeful Lincoln will be able to return to school by the middle of next week pending a new course of treatment.

She said Van Deusen is a "great teacher" who deserved to be "acknowledged" for making time for the visit.