Paying it forward

A note from Alabama, from James Noland RN, MSN, CEN, Clinical Education Specialist, Huntsville Hospital Emergency Department Office.

"On November 20, 2006, a tragic school bus crash occurred in Huntsville, Alabama. More than thirty students were brought to Huntsville Hospital. Among the injured were four young women who sustained major head injuries and later died. This tragedy made national news.

"In Boston, MA, at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Emergency Department, nurses heard about the tragic event and performed the most honorable gesture. The nurses from Beth Israel Deaconess Emergency Department bought the staff of Huntsville Hospital Emergency Department lunch the next day. Yes, on November 21, 2006, around 11:30am several pizzas arrived with a note attached that read to: all emergency room nurses from: your Emergency nursing colleagues at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston, we are there with you, keep up the good work. This was such an honorable gesture.

"So, when the tornado swept across Enterprise, Alabama, and the bus crash occurred in Atlanta, Georgia, the ED nurses from Huntsville Hospital collected money and bought pizza for the staff at Medical Center Enterprise in Enterprise, Alabama, and the ED staff at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta; we decided to pay-it-forward.

"There is a spotlight section on the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center website that says 'BIDMC is making a difference in Boston and around the world...' and they certainly are. Thank you BIDMC for what you did and the difference you are making."

And thank you, Huntsville, for paying it forward!