You always hear about great stories that happen in our hospital, but to experience one first hand truly overwhelms one with joy in even the darkest of moments. Even as I type this message, I think of the reasons why we do what we do and it hits me that this is the why.
One of our BMT patients is in his last stages of being here physically with us. He has accepted his next path. However, he had one wish. If his daughter gave birth, he wanted the opportunity to see the baby. His daughter's wish was to grant her father's last request. She delivered here at UMMC. She wasn't sure if it could happen, but she asked if it was possible to take her newborn baby to see her dad. Well, UMMC made it happen. Susie Gill, her nurse, reached out to the nurse manager and clinical director who contacted many others to put this request in motion. It's because of Susie that our patient was able to see his new grandbaby 5 hours after birth.
Susie, I want to thank you. This action brings happiness and comfort. This family will have this as a lasting memory. Instead of just seeing death they will see life. Most of all, they will know they honored their father. It closes a chapter and begins a new one. Very few of us will ever have that opportunity. You made it happen. You could have said no or that it was impossible, but you didn't. You took the time and made the effort. We on the BMT unit are grateful.
We are also thankful to all who took part in this. We know there were many hands that helped in this endeavor.