My dad, with the help of Stacy, concocted a little plan so he could do something for my mom on their Anniversary which he's never missed. Stacy went far and beyond what would have been a nice gesture for a patient. My dad was on day 15 of his Healthcare journey. Which started with ER and ICU care that saved his life only to move on to the out-of-left field and hard-to-hear diagnosis of Stage 4 Lung Cancer. The compassion Stacy exhibited to my parents and family through her generous and heartfelt act of helping them celebrate another year's milestone can only be described as "A God Thing".

Stacy came in early before her shift and hung up some pennant banners, and a Happy Anniversary banner, then put a white tablecloth over my dad's rolling food table on which she placed several miniature cupcakes and chocolates, two plastic champagne glasses, little sparkling apple cider bottles on ice resourcefully using dad's hospital water pitcher! Topping it off with an (Air quality safe) pinwheel bouquet that she designed. Over near the sink, she prepared a dining experience with shiny gold plates, matching plastic ware, and gold-striped napkins with dinner for two from Bono's BBQ. Finally was the song playlist she had worked up with my dad on a prior shift bringing much levity to all that he was enduring and thinking in the wee hours of the night.

Stacy put the songs on her personal phone and left it playing on dad's food table and dimmed the room lights for a romantic and loving surprise for my mom when she walked in. When my mom arrived and entered my dad's room there was barely a dry eye on the unit floor. It gave my mom the first full moment to let go of some of the emotions that had been building under such a diagnosis and whirlwind of change. It also ultimately gave them time to celebrate the gift of another year together. Stacy gracefully would not accept any reimbursement when I offered several times. She only asked that my family pay it forward and said that after hearing about my dad she was sure that he had paid much forward in his life and now it was his turn to receive.

It is my hope that much inspiration and good will come from this story of a Baptist Hospital caregiver demonstrating such a loving act of blessing towards a relative stranger under her care. It is our family's honor to recommend Stacy Arnold for some type of special recognition in your Hospital and Healthcare community. The biggest and most heartfelt thank you to her and the many outstanding individuals from whom we received care from at Baptist.