Bessie Overbay had been in remission from melanoma for nearly two decades when she visited a dermatologist for what she thought were some nasty spider bites. However, a biopsy soon revealed that cancer had returned — and this time it was stage 4.
“I just said a prayer and said, ‘We’ll get through this.’ I came home, and once I got myself calmed down, I called Baptist Health,” she says. “Baptist helped ease my fears.”
Bessie is grateful for the compassionate, cutting-edge care she’s received at Baptist Health.
“You’re in a storm and all of a sudden you realize you’ve calmed down. By them knowing their job and doing it, you’re calmed down and breathing and not swept away in that storm,” she says. “Ever since I started taking treatments, I felt like I was going to be alright.”
Now, nearly a year into treatment, Bessie is in remission. The doctor said her latest scan was “unremarkable” — a word she’s never been so happy or grateful to hear. “This is almost as unbelievable as the diagnosis,” she says. “I’ve been given this second opportunity, I can’t waste it. What can I do? How can I honor this chance I’ve been given?”
Bessie is brimming with gratitude — for the Baptist Health doctors and nurses who treated her with such kindness, and for the advanced technology that’s made her recovery possible: “I couldn’t ask for better.”
Shortly after Aleisha Allen’s son, Legend, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD at age 3, she had to quit work and focus full time on meeting her family’s needs. “It was rough,” she admits, and life only got more challenging when her son entered school.
Shortly thereafter, she sought behavioral health treatment for her son at Baptist Health. In less than a year, Legend’s life has been transformed for the better — and for that, Aleisha is incredibly grateful.
“I’m grateful for grace and people and medicine and doctors. You never know how little things will change your life,” she says. “I’m grateful for the everyday interactions Legend has now that he didn’t get to experience before.”
There was a time when the family wasn’t sure Legend would ever talk, Aleisha says. He also had frequent outbursts and was struggling in the classroom. Thanks to his team of providers at Baptist Health, she says her son “has improved tremendously” — his grades skyrocketed, he’s reading at a higher level, and he’s able to enjoy activities such as baseball.
“We’ve come a long way. We’re grateful he is who he is. We love his personality. Him being able to regulate himself is a huge piece of the puzzle,” she says. “For us, we’re just completely grateful for our village.” A village that includes Baptist Health.
I’m grateful for grace and people and medicine and doctors.
Jim Miller understands the value of a gratitude, for reasons big and small: He’s grateful for great parents who gave him life, reliable friends who step up when he’s in need, and even kind strangers who yield to him in traffic.
“Gratitude can be observed by watching how others appreciate life on this great planet God has given them, and how they treat this planet and all mankind,” said Jim, a longtime Baptist Health Foundation Board member. Jim and his wife Betty are the proud parents of three daughters who were all born at Baptist Health.
During his tenure as a math and computer science professor at Transylvania University, Jim said he was often on the receiving end of gratitude: “I have memories of graduated students expressing their thanks for my help in preparing them for a successful life. This illustrated that I was fulfilling my mission as a teacher.”
Jim believes gratitude fosters a community of “people helping people,” and that “a reward for acting on gratitude is a happier day, a better night’s sleep and a greater appreciation for life.”
Gratitude is a force that has the power to uplift people spiritually, emotionally and even physically, he added, and it’s an expression of “your love for others, for God, and for doing what God desires.”
A reward for acting on gratitude is a happier day, a better night’s sleep and a greater appreciation for life.
Joe Beavin believes it’s important to be mindful of the good things in life and to take the time to be grateful — because gratitude doesn’t just “happen.”
“A person who sees and is grateful for the good around him or her is more likely to perpetuate what is good and to help ‘lift up’ that which still needs lifting,” said the Baptist Health Foundation Board Member. Gratitude “feeds upon itself,” he added, and “creates a positive vibe.”
Joe spots gratitude in people who exhibit a positive attitude, appreciate their surroundings, and lead a life of service without looking for personal gain — attributes he strives to exemplify in his own life.
“Gratitude is an attitude: recognizing the good that exists and is constantly happening around you,” he said. And it’s a way of life that “imparts a sense of peace.”
When asked what he’s most grateful for, Joe said: “I am most grateful to be blessed with a wonderful family and to be afforded the good health that enables me to pursue various opportunities.”
Gratitude is an attitude: recognizing the good that exists and is constantly happening around you.
Jessica Head is grateful for her two healthy daughters — and for the compassionate care she received at Baptist Health Paducah during both complicated pregnancies. During her first pregnancy, Jessica experienced pre-eclampsia, which led to premature labor and an emergency C-section. During her second, she developed a hematoma that caused multiple episodes of blood loss.
“I cannot imagine choosing another hospital other than Baptist to deliver my girls,” said Jessica, a former ICU nurse at Baptist Health Paducah. In recounting her experience as a patient, Jessica is grateful not only for exceptional medical care, but also for the kindness displayed by health care providers — including Matthew Sublette, MD.
When Jessica felt “extremely sick” due to the anesthesia administered before her second child was born in December 2021, Dr. Sublette held her hand in the operating room and played Christmas music to ease her mind. “That simple gesture meant so much,” she said. “He is more than an OBGYN, he is a compassionate human being and wants the best for his patients.”
While pregnant with her youngest daughter, Jessica said there were times she and her husband were unsure if they would ever get to hold her. Today, she’s grateful for the care that made it possible, along with the countless prayers from family and friends along the way.
“Without gratitude, the world would be a lonely, dark place,” she said. “Taking time to reflect on your own gratitude will change your way of thinking, because there is always something to be thankful for.”
Taking time to reflect on your own gratitude will change your way of thinking, because there is always something to be thankful for.
When Edward Berry was admitted to Baptist Health La Grange with COVID-19, it was the start of a frightening journey. Escalating symptoms landed him in the Intensive Care Unit, where he encountered Nurse Manager Tiffany Payton — one of many health care providers for whom he is grateful.
“I’ll never forget her many acts of love and courage to minister care to me in the ICU when she and her nursing staff were literally putting their lives on the line to help me,” he said.
Edward tries not to miss an opportunity to express his gratitude each day, whether that’s through something as simple as a smile, hug, handshake or kind words. “I feel that gratitude can transform a community,” he said. “When we take action to express and show our appreciation to others, it is a powerful force.”
He also believes gratitude was an important part of his healing, recovery and now restoration, saying: “I have so much to be grateful for, and I want to grow in the grace of gratitude each day.”
And though Edward is grateful for many aspects of life, he is most thankful that “God’s generous grace” has allowed him more time on earth to fulfill His purpose. “God created us for community, and without it we miss out on the richness of life and the sustaining strength that God has made available in the Body of Christ.”
Gratitude can transform a community. When we take action to express and show our appreciation to others, it is a powerful force.
When Sammy Leslie checked out of Baptist Health several days after giving birth, her newborn son had to stay behind in the NICU. The special going-home onesie she’d packed would stay tucked in her suitcase, the car seat would sit empty in the backseat, and the nursery would remain quiet a little while longer.
It was a difficult day made easier by compassionate caregivers.
“A NICU nurse said, ‘I know today may be hard for you and that this is not what you had planned.’ This gave me permission to stop trying to be strong for a moment and feel my emotions. It was OK to not be OK,” the first-time mom recalled. “She saw women like me every day, yet I was not just another patient to her. She was not just going through the motions, and she had not become numb to the human aspect of her job. She came to work every day because she truly wanted to make a difference in the world and help people like me and my baby. I now had someone I could trust, and it made leaving my baby behind a little bit easier.”
Making matters even more challenging at the time, COVID prevented the couple’s families from comforting them at the hospital. “The NICU nurses became our surrogate moms for those weeks,” Sammy said. “They knew just how to comfort us and make the process as easy as possible. We were blown away by the amount of genuine care we were shown.”
“Going into the NICU was the scariest moment of our lives, but we left feeling like we had gained family,” she added. “This experience reminded me that our community is made up of good, kind people that we can rely on and trust, and for that I am grateful.
You don’t realize just how big of an impact a small act of kindness can have.
There’s a beautiful term for a baby born following a miscarriage — a rainbow baby. It’s a reference grateful mom Danon Ditto uses often in recounting her experience at Baptist Health, where she delivered her rainbow baby in 2020.
“As with any new baby, emotions were high, but our biggest emotion was full of gratitude for the team of doctors and nurses that brought our sweet baby boy into this world,” said Danon, who gave birth via C-Section following a long labor.
It was a difficult delivery, and Danon is thankful her OBGYN, Dr. Sarah Borders, was there to help her every step of the way.
“When I think of a person I am grateful for, she is at the top of the list! She helped us through our miscarriage, navigating getting pregnant again, delivering our rainbow baby, and is about to deliver our baby girl,” said Danon — who by now is a proud mom of two.
Dr. Borders has been a reliable, patient and reassuring “calm in the chaos,” according to Danon. “She was encouraging when I was heartbroken. She was helpful when I was confused,” she said. “Our experience at Baptist Health has been top notch, and we would highly recommend it to anyone. Our hearts are full of gratitude for all the doctors and nurses that we have encountered during our time at Baptist Health.”
Our hearts are full of gratitude for all the doctors and nurses that we have encountered during out time at Baptist Health.
Simple acts of kindness spread rapidly and remind us that we’re not alone, according to Gina D’Costa, MD. That’s especially important to remember as we grapple with COVID-19. “Every crisis reminds us that it is not about us as individuals, but rather about us as a community,” says the Baptist Health Richmond physician.
The pandemic has reinforced Dr. D’Costa’s belief in the power of gratitude: “It has strengthened my resolve to help my patients heal and cope with adversity. It has helped me further realize how important our families, both at work and home, are to us and how we have worked with each other to strengthen ourselves during this pandemic.”
As the pandemic peaked over the winter, Jamie Wilkerson, MSN, wanted to thank his Baptist Health Hardin colleagues for their tireless efforts. The nurse and director of Critical Care teamed up with a few co-workers at the hospital to put this gratitude into action by creating “recharge rooms,” a calm place for staff to regenerate from their rigorous shifts.
“We wanted to just give them an environment to step into and recharge,” says Jamie. “Once we shared the idea, leadership and the [Baptist Health Hardin] Foundation ran with it and made it a huge success.”
While most of the world slowed down during the pandemic, that hasn’t been the case in healthcare settings. “Things are moving so quickly,” says Jamie, adding that cooperation between departments has never been more important. It’s been a crazy year, but “we are stronger and more grateful for each discipline.”
At this stage in life, Jamie is most grateful for his infant daughter and wife. But he also has a renewed appreciation for all the direct caregivers who have treated patients throughout COVID-19, as well as the community members who have shown overwhelming support.
Going forward, I hope we all prioritize the opportunity to reflect and understand where we have been and the gratitude that exists, universally. We take everything for granted when things are running so smoothly. It is important that we realize what we are grateful for and how we can show gratitude.
