To those of you who worked on that Wednesday night, and to those of you who were not there that night, we went through a really tough and frightening time. The car ripping through that wall was a sound and a sight I don't think we are going to forget. The smoke, the alarms going off, the doors slamming, people screaming, everyone running, confusion...it was pretty horrific. I know I haven't experienced anything like that in the past. I know that I was frightened. But let me tell you what I witnessed. I saw staff that worked through smoke, and people screaming, and debris and fear. I saw staff who appeared calm and appeared as if they worked in these sort of conditions every day! I saw staff race to take care of patients and put the patients first and themselves second. I saw teamwork, compassion, caring, helpfulness...I saw emergency medicine at its very best.
Even though this was a very frightening experience to go through and there was an outcome that I wish were different (as one of the patients passed away), I feel privileged to have witnessed my team this night. There is no other team that I can imagine performing like this. You all are truly what the patients needed that night from the doctors to the nurses to the care partners to the housekeepers who cleaned up the aftermath. Stretchers were brought to the lobby, CPR was performed, medicine was given, patients were taken where they were safe, and eventually calm resumed and we all went on with the night as if we did this every day. That is an amazing feat. Someone who is non-medical said to me, "I can't believe they didn't bring in other people to relieve you guys and help you with this". I said, "We ARE the people who help with this. It's only us." And we should be so proud.
So, thank you, team. Thank you for your bravery that night. The bravery to stand and do our normal night when nothing was normal. Thank you for doing what you always do, even when there was smoke, and screaming, and doors slamming, and people running. We saved the day. And we should live in pride that as a team we are always saving the day, in little ways and big! You all are my heroes, my coworkers, and my family. And I am proud of you. And of our team.

Team Members honored with the DAISY TEAM Award:
Brenda Syers, RN
Katrina Raley, RN
Melissa Carlyle, RN
Ronda Isley, RN
Rachel Gatland, RN
Catie Jones, RN
Felice Grimes, Nursing Assistant
Jodi Willoughby, RN
Jessica Rea, RN
Lela Tatum-Mintz, RN
Travis Harbrige, RN
Audrey Robles, RN
Janice Roberson, Nursing Assistant
Belinda Matthews, Unit Secretary
Tiffany Rickelman, RN
Ryan Craft, RN
Leslie Willoughby, Care Partner
Elizabeth Barkman, Care Partner
Rebecca Gift-Bunch, RN
Corey Speller, RN
Staci Welch, RN
Samantha Williams, RN
Brittany Oliver, RN
Randy Tatum-Mintz, RN
Alise Pocta, RN
Brandy Galloway, RN
Columbia Moore, Care Partner
Leslie McDaniel, Care Partner
Crystal Anthony, Unit Secretary
Clint Freeman, Supply Chain Clerk
Shautay Hyman, Unit Secretary
Keith Berryhill, Patient Representative
Paulette Western, Patient Safety Monitor
Rashad Holloway, MD
Kyle Lee, MD
Jessica Mullins, MD
Christina Nussbaum, MD
Ruben Trey Sloan, MD
Deanna Lassegard, MD
Kimberly Alford, MD
Raj Patel, MD
Richard Stair, MD
Cynthia Branch, Supervisor, Office of Patient and Family Experience
Janitha Caine, Hospitality Associate
Timeshia Smallwood, Hospitality Associate
Shawn Johnson, Patient Access Representative
Laverne Oakley, Patient Access Representative
Lisa Allen, Patient Access Representative
Tymeshia Joyner, Patient Access Representative
Charlotte Harris, Patient Access Specialist
Kenneth Staggers, Patient Access Specialist
Trina Moore, Manager, Patient Access Opeations