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A love story in the midst of the storm

Lorraine Parker

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Left to right: Andrea Studnitzer (Asst. Mgr. of Guest Services, Patient Experience and Volunteers), Annembom Tumban (Nursing Manager), Virginia McGary, Richard McGary, 3rd Floor Neurology nursing team members (Molly Knapp, Amanda Carten, Tasha McQueen, Denise Peters, Iyabo Biyi and Orlando Santana). Photo by Debbie Boensch/Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital.

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On Sept. 26, Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital, like much of the Florida Gulf Coast, was bracing for the impact of Hurricane Helene. In the middle of evacuation efforts across our community, one local resident, Richard McGary, was admitted to our hospital. Richard, a retired Marine, had been evacuating from Zone A with his wife, Virginia, and daughter, Debbie Boensch, when he experienced a medical emergency that brought them to us. As the storm bore down on our community, it was our team’s privilege to care for this couple.

There’s an irony in how life unfolds sometimes. This was Richard’s very first hospital stay, on a day that should have been marked by celebration. Sept. 26 wasn’t just any day; it was his and Virginia’s 60th wedding anniversary, their diamond anniversary – a milestone few couples are fortunate enough to reach. Instead of their planned joyful celebration, they were caught in the path of a destructive hurricane, and now worried for Richard’s health.

Throughout my nursing career, I’ve witnessed countless moments of fear, hope and resilience, but there was something uniquely touching about Richard and Virginia’s situation that our team members recognized. The devastation a hurricane can cause is something Floridians know all too well, but there’s a different kind of heartbreak that comes from watching a couple face a health crisis during what should have been a milestone of happiness.

That’s when our neurology and guest services team members stepped in – not just as healthcare providers but as human beings. They couldn’t let this moment pass without doing something to recognize the love and commitment Richard and Virginia had shared over the years. Sixty years is a lifetime, filled with laughter and tears, hardships and joy, and that deserved to be celebrated. So, the Orlando Health team members rallied and started planning.

Our team decorated the sign outside the door to Richard’s room with hearts and a happy anniversary message, signaling to everyone who passed by that this was a special place, even amid the chaos of hurricane preparations. The hearts became more than just decorations – they were symbols of the love that had weathered so much and would continue to shine, even now.

In a few short hours, our team had gathered a beautiful flower bouquet, balloons, a dinner for two and a card signed by all the staff, and even arranged a time for everyone to come in and sing to them. It was quite the moment when everyone crowded into that hospital room – nurses, aides, and support staff, along with their daughter, Debbie – to celebrate Virginia and Richard. Even though it had been a stressful and scary day for them (all of them) and a hurricane was raging outside, their smiles finally broke through.

But the celebration didn’t end there. The team members who passed by Richard’s room after that couldn’t help but pause, see the hearts outside the door, and smile. Some stepped inside just to wish the McGarys well on their special day. It was as if Richard and Virginia’s love had become a beacon, spreading warmth and hope throughout our hospital during a time when we were all feeling the strain of the storm.

That night and the next day, as Hurricane Helene made its way up the coast, our team continued to provide care and comfort to all our patients. But taking time to celebrate McGarys was a reminder of why we do what we do – not just to treat illnesses but to care for people and celebrate their stories, even in the most challenging of circumstances.

Richard and Virginia’s love is a testament to what it means to stand by each other through thick and thin, through storms and celebrations alike. And we, as a team at Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital, are honored to have been part of this chapter in their journey and hope that in the days, weeks and months ahead, as our community rebuilds, we remember to take time for the celebrations.

Lorraine Parker is the Chief Nursing Officer at Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital.

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2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. Avatar

    Amy Walsh

    October 24, 2024at8:15 pm

    What a beautiful story. Thank you to all for being great human beings. Love wins.

  2. Avatar

    S. Rose Smith-Hayes

    October 22, 2024at12:38 am

    Thank you to the Staff that came up with this heart warming idea.

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