Skip to Content

Team Elevates Care, One Bear at a Time

Dr. Larry Antonucci's Blog Posts

Posted:

May 11, 2021

Each month, I take the opportunity to shine the spotlight on employees and teams throughout Lee Health whose dedication and passion inspires others, and whose efforts align with our ExceptionalLee Promise – which states: “We promise to listen and communicate effectively, embrace empathy, act with compassion and continually improve care – creating a safe, comforting and healing environment for our patients, their families and each other.” I share this with our teams throughout Lee Health in what I call an “Exceptional You Shout-out.” The most recent shout-out featured a team at Lee Memorial Hospital that is elevating compassionate care, inspiring hope and living the Promise.

The team includes respiratory therapists Nicolette Moran, Melissa McGlade and Veronica Barde, and nurse practitioner Jenevieve Perry, who like so many teams throughout Lee Health have fought on the frontlines of the pandemic, caring for the critically ill and serving as surrogate family members for patients.

Ms. Moran, Ms. McGlade, Ms. Barde and Ms. Perry formed a special bond with Rose, one of their patients. Rose shared a room with another patient very close to this team’s heart, whose prognosis continued to worsen. Rose grew scared as her roommate’s health declined, bundling up her blankets and holding them close.

The three respiratory therapists, Ms. Moran, Ms. McGlade and Ms. Barde, chipped in to buy a stuffed bear to comfort Rose. When Ms. Perry and Dr. Rahul Challapalli heard, they chipped in, too. Inspired by her caregivers, Rose named the bear “Angel.”

From that moment on, Rose began to get better. After being on 100% oxygen for weeks, she eventually made it out of the ICU, to rehab and then home.

Ms. Perry decided to honor her colleagues’ initial kind gesture by creating the Mi Amor Project. Through this initiative – and with support from leadership, including Lee Memorial Hospital Director of Respiratory Services Mishanda Seawright – the team collects donations of teddy bears and other stuffed animals to give to patients.

These stuffed animals are more than a gift. They encourage patients to keep fighting. They comfort those in isolation. They show our patients that we truly care. And they inspire hope.

As president & CEO, it is my honor and privilege to share these shout-outs with our team members and our community. I am inspired by the ways our teams care for and serve others every day and night, and I hope you are, too.

Yours in Health,

Larry Antonucci, M.D., MBA

President & CEO, Lee Health

Thank you for your support. Together we are Caring People. Inspiring Health.