Beebe: A vital part of our community

I didn’t wake up the morning of Maddex’s accident thinking about Beebe Healthcare and the important role that the hospital and its caregivers play in our community. I was thinking about a day at the beach with my husband and our four children!

At 10 a.m., however, my world was turned upside down. My 3-year-old son, Maddex, caused a large object in our garage to fall. It pinned his tiny little hand to the concrete floor. I was terrified.

My husband and I rushed Maddex to Beebe’s Emergency Department. He had an open fracture to his pinky finger. We found out later that his pinky had almost been amputated – only two tendons held it to my precious baby’s hand. 

At the emergency department, I went into a sort of shock. I could only watch as Dr. Jon Hilton and nurses Amanda Bertoncini and Amber Larimore cared for my child. The nurses, acting like both his mother and his nurse, distracted and sang to my son, cleaning his wound and prepping him for transport. In the bustle of a very busy department, everyone was calm, attentive and clinically exceptional.

Still at our side when the transport arrived, Amanda even went so far as to remove and reinstall the child seat in the transport vehicle to ensure Maddex’s safety. These extraordinary people went above and beyond that day. They did not have to do all that they did for my son - and for our family - but I am ever so grateful that they did. 

Maddex had to have two surgeries. He was able to keep his finger and is now doing well in occupational therapy. Thank you to Beebe Healthcare for being there for me and my family. Thank you also to these amazing caregivers. All too often caregivers are overlooked, but even in the state of shock I was in, I appreciated all they were doing from the bottom of my heart. Saying “thank you” still just doesn't seem to be enough.

As a community-based, not-for-profit healthcare system, Beebe Healthcare depends on the generous support of individuals, local businesses, corporations and private foundations. Contact Beebe Medical Foundation to make a gift; www.beebemedicalfoundation.org or 302-644-2900.