Doc Dresses As Chewbacca To Tell Boy He's Getting A New Heart

CHICAGO, IL — For transplant recipients, nothing in the world is better than receiving word that the organ they're waiting for is available. Maybe that's why a pediatric cardiologist at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago found inspiration from a galaxy far, far away when it came to delivering that kind of life-saving news to his teenage patient.

Dr. Philip Thrush recently dressed as Chewbacca to tell Austin Eggleston, 15, that he was getting a new heart. Thrush had promised Austin, a die-hard "Star Wars" fan, that he would don the Wookie costume to share news about the heart the teen needed.

Austin, who's from Pontiac, Illinois, was born with three congenital heart defects. He was admitted to Lurie about four-and-a-half months ago after being placed on the transplant list, according to his aunt, Korie Kissiar. That's when doctor and patient struck their dress-up deal, she said in a Facebook post.

WATCH: Austin Eggleston's doctor dresses as Chewbacca to tell the young "Star Wars" fan that he's receiving a new heart:

And while Thrush's costumed gesture is impressive, it doesn't compare to Austin's enthusiastic reaction to the news. In a video posted online, the young "Star Wars" fan not only high-fives his cardiologist, but he also jumps up and down so joyously that some of his IV tubes look ready to come loose.

The transplant operation was performed Saturday and Austin is recuperating, Kissiar said.

"He is off the breathing tube and was talking and eating ice!!" she wrote.

Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago cardiologist Dr. Philip Thrush dresses as Chewbacca to tell his transplant patient, Austin Eggleston, that a new heart was available. (Screenshot via Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago video)