It was a family affair for Madonna and her children on Tuesday. The 58-year-old pop icon opened The Mercy James Institute for Paediatric Surgery and Intensive Care in Blantyre, Malawai, which is the first facility of its kind to be built in the country.
The surgery, which is named after Madonna’s daughter, Mercy James, was paid for by the “Material Girl” singer’s charity Raising Malawi.
It was an emotional day for the entire family, who toured and helped open the facility, along with a children’s choir.
Madonna shared a video of herself holding the hands of her twin daughters, Stelle and Estere, and walking in with Mercy and her son, David.
“Oh my gosh, what a beautiful hospital!” Madonna said in the clip. “This is the brightest, most cheerful hospital entrance I’ve seen.”
And though it was unclear whether or not her son, Rocco Ritchie, attended the opening, he was certainly involved in the creation of the surgery center.
“R.R. Working on his mural at the Mercy James Center in Blantyre !! Everyone does their part,” Madonna captioned an Instagram shot of her son painting.
The GRAMMY winner went on to give a moving speech at the opening, getting candid about the obstacles she faced when adopting her daughter Mercy in 2009.
"It was not an easy battle," Madonna said with clear emotion in her voice (via Reuters)."The judge refused me because I was recently divorced. We hired lawyers, went to the Supreme Court. But I never gave up, I never backed down…I fought for Mercy and won. We fought for this hospital and won. Love conquers all."
Madonna and her children hugged one another in the audience as they celebrated the milestone day. Mercy also got up and said, “Many kids and many lives will be saved. Thank you mum, you're the bomb.”
