• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2025 ABC News
  • Wellness
  • Halloween

2-year-old boy with rare disease dresses up as his doctor for Halloween

1:31
Halloween 2020 by the numbers
Norton Children's Cancer Institute
Shannon McLellan
ByShannon McLellan
November 02, 2020, 10:31 PM

Many 2-year-old boys want to dress up as Superman or Spiderman for Halloween, but Jonah Bump decided to dress up as a different type of superhero – his doctor.

Jonah was diagnosed with a rare immune deficiency disorder, severe combined immunodeficiency disease, when he was very young. Because of this, Dr. William Tse, the director of pediatric stem cell transplantation at Norton Children's Cancer Institute in Louisville, Kentucky, performed a stem cell transplant on Jonah when he was just 7 months old.

Jonah Bump with his sister on Halloween.
Norton Children's Cancer Institute

Because he did not have a functioning immune system, Jonah needed to be isolated in a room at the hospital. His mother, Laurie Bump, says for the most part Tse and hospital staff were the only people they were allowed to see.

Related Articles

MORE: Babies in NICU celebrate 1st Halloween with sweet costume contest

"The doctors and nurses became like extended family to us," Bump said. "Dr. Tse went out of his way to do things for me just out of kindness. Our family has a soft spot for Dr. Tse because of everything he's done for us and the way he cares about Jonah and our family."

Editor’s Picks

Babies in NICU celebrate 1st Halloween with sweet costume contest

  • Oct 31, 2018

13-year-old girl born with rare intestinal disease is surprised with Halloween party

  • Oct 30, 2020

6-year-old boy's life saved by 2 bone marrow donors during coronavirus pandemic

  • Oct 06, 2020

Dr. Tse says Jonah was one of his very first patients when he started working at the hospital in Louisville two and a half years ago. After Jonah's surgery, he continues to see the toddler every three to six months to check up on him.

"Every time I see him I'm amazed by well he's doing," Tse said. "I feel proud. I feel happy and grateful that together (with his family) we can help Jonah to become a healthy child."

The Bump family poses with Dr. William Tse at the annual pajama drive their family started at the hospital.
Norton Children's Cancer Institute

Bump says she recently bought her son a doctor kit to play with, and when Halloween came around, she thought it'd be the perfect idea to have her son dress up as someone who means so much to their family.

"It seemed like a good fit," Bump said. "Everyone in our family has been Jonah's patient and because of what Dr. Tse means to us we decided to combine the two."

Bump dressed up Jonah exactly like Tse, including a white coat and Tse's signature blue Oxford shirt he wears underneath the coat. They even replicated Tse's hospital name tag to say "Tse Jr."

Jonah's mom Laurie Bump says Jonah often tells her, "Dr. Tse makes you all better."
Norton Children's Cancer Institute

When the costume was complete, she texted the picture to one of Tse's transplant nurses and asked her to relay it to him. When Tse saw it, he said he was honored.

"He was like a mini-me," Tse said. "I was touched. I was so surprised and I didn't expect it. The costume looked like me down to the very last detail."

Related Articles

MORE: 13-year-old girl born with rare intestinal disease is surprised with Halloween party

Tse jokes that in 20 years he hopes Jonah might be able to become a real doctor just like him, but for now he is touched that he could play.

"To be a pediatrician is really a privilege that we can really make an impact on a sick child's life," Tse says.

Related Topics

  • Halloween

Editor’s Picks

Babies in NICU celebrate 1st Halloween with sweet costume contest

  • Oct 31, 2018

13-year-old girl born with rare intestinal disease is surprised with Halloween party

  • Oct 30, 2020

6-year-old boy's life saved by 2 bone marrow donors during coronavirus pandemic

  • Oct 06, 2020

Up Next in Wellness—

Olympic gymnast Suni Lee brings doctor as her date to 2025 ESPYS

July 17, 2025

Soccer star speaks out 2 months after collapsing on field mid-game

July 16, 2025

Barbie introduces 1st doll with Type 1 diabetes

July 8, 2025

Olivia Munn opens up about living with trichotillomania

July 1, 2025

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2025 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2025 ABC News