Sandra Bullock, daughter Laila surprise nurse in emotional 'Red Table Talk' honoring COVID-19 heroes
A Mother's Day edition of Facebook Watch's "Red Table Talk" honored frontline workers in the battle against coronavirus, with one nurse getting an unexpected greeting – and heartfelt message of appreciation – from Oscar winner Sandra Bullock.
And that wasn't the only surprise. Bullock's 8-year-old daughter, Laila, made a rare on-screen appearance, sitting on her mother's lap and offering her own thanks.
Jada Pinkett Smith, joined by her mother, Adrienne Banfield-Jones, and her daughter, Willow Smith, paid tribute to four frontline workers in the new episode, posted Friday.
April Buencamino, nurse manager at White Memorial hospital in Los Angeles, was thrilled to meet Bullock, who appeared on camera from her kitchen.
"April, thank you for – I’m going to try and say this without crying – thank you for everything that you’re doing, because we get to sit here and be home with our families because you are out there doing the hard, hard, hard work," Bullock said.
There's a connection. Bullock and her two children, who wanted to do something to help health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, donated 6,000, high-end N95 masks to the hospital where Buencamino works in April.
"We were given the names of several hospitals, and April’s hospital was one of the main ones," Bullock said. "We put masks on the kids with gloves and rolled on down there and deposited so they could see firsthand the first responders and see how hard it is right now."
Buencamino, the mother of two young girls, had heard about Bullock's donation, but didn't meet her when she visited the hospital. She said contributions like the one Bullock made help ease "one of the biggest fears" about "not having enough protection" in terms of masks and other equipment.
Previous 'Table Talk': Jada Pinkett Smith reveals how quarantine has changed relationship with husband Will Smith
Bullock remedied their earlier missed connection with an emotional online appreciation, and related to the nurse as a mother.
"And you, as a mom, I know you’re scared, I know you’re scared on so many levels," Bullock said. "The fact that you were born with that extra gift, to go out and do the good work, I bow down to you. To your family, I say thank you."
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The maternal theme continued as Buencamino related her most difficult COVID-19 experience. "Personally, the hardest day was when I had to see a young teenage daughter say goodbye to her mom," she said.
Buencamino figured out a way to let the daughter have a final moment with her mom, despite virus restrictions. The two, separated by a glass window, had a final conversation as Buencamino and a colleague held phones for the mother and daughter.
"It just broke my heart," Buencamino said. "Knowing I have two daughters, I wouldn't want my daughters to go through that."
Bullock's young daughter, Laila, brightened the mood, joining her mother to thank Buencamino.
"Hi, ladies!" Laila said, before speaking directly to Buencamino.
"Thank you, April, for doing everything for everyone," she said, before offering another message at her mother's suggestion. "Stay safe, your family."
"It melts my heart," Buencamino said, her hand over her heart.
Bullock seemed confident that Laila would be a frontline hero some day. "She’s our world superhero. She’s the one that’s going to save the world in our family, so she’s ready. She’s ready to join you out there, April, in a few years."
Bullock's appearance was just one surprise for Buencamino. Pinkett Smith told her that the Will & Jada Smith Family Foundation is donating $50,000 to her hospital and that the nurse, her husband and daughter, who missed a birthday vacation because of the pandemic, would get "the vacation of your choice" whenever the timing works for them.
Before leaving, Bullock praised the women of the "Red Table" for their work and Pinkett Smith offered her own promise: "Sandy, you just keep being that amazing, bomb gangster woman that you are, Mama. Next time I see you, when this is all over, I'm going to give you a big hug and a big kiss."
Bullock had just one more request: "And a big tequila!"
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sandra Bullock, daughter Laila surprise 'Red Table Talk' COVID-19 hero
