St. Elizabeth Hospital nursing care inspires donation to charities

Published 4:00 pm Monday, January 19, 2015

Mike Gill had the misfortune to spend four days in the hospital, landing in the emergency room on Christmas Day. But instead of bemoaning the illness that disrupted family plans, the Enumclaw resident has found a silver lining.

Namely, the nurses who provide around-the-clock care at St. Elizabeth Hospital.

When a patient receives exceptional care, it’s the doctors who generally receive the credit, along with the hospital itself, Gill said. But he was particularly grateful for the nursing care that was provided during his stay – and he came up with a most tangible way to show his appreciation.

Gill returned to St. Elizabeth’s Acute Care Department the afternoon of Jan. 15 with three checks tucked into a trio of thank-you cards. He had singled out nurses Lindsay Bissell, John Clavecillas and Maggie Ryan, writing a check to a charity of each nurse’s choice.

“They did an unbelievable job, getting me out of here in four days,” Gill said. He was initially told his hospital stay might reach two weeks.

That didn’t sit well with Gill, who cares for his 89-year-old mother. Additionally, out-of-town family had come for the holidays and Gill had hoped to experience Christmas with his four great-grandchildren.

In the end, he departed St. Elizabeth happy and well on the road to recovery.

Three charities also are a bit healthier. Bissell’s charity of choice was the Susan G. Komen Foundation; Clavecillas suggested a donation to the Franciscan Foundation; and Ryan directed a donation to American Heartwalk.