Stories from Mission

Press release from HCA Healthcare: 

Our Western North Carolina communities felt the full-force of Mother-Nature’s fury when Hurricane Helene wreak havoc on our part of the state. No matter how prepared you think you are, you are never prepared enough for what we witnessed and for what some are continuing to endure. Our neighbors and communities have experienced such destruction and loss that it is hard to process even weeks later.

There are extraordinary colleagues here at Mission Health who were tireless in their efforts during the storm and its aftermath. Amid Hurricane Helene, Mission Health caregivers delivered continuous patient care, offered comfort by holding the hands of those in need, welcomed new lives into the world and supported each other in the face of devastation. Mission Health colleagues and caregivers, offered unwavering dedication as they continued to care for patients, community and each other in the aftermath of the storm.

Tremendous support from HCA Healthcare ensured that our hospitals and team members had everything they needed and continue to monitor needs. All Mission Health hospitals have remained open to care for our communities.

There were so many heroic and uplifting stories throughout Mission Hospital, here are some of the faces from the storm:

Linda and Gary 

Through 62 years of marriage, Linda and Gary of Swannanoa, North Carolina, have navigated life together. When Linda and Gary took their vows six decades ago, they promised to be by each other’s side, for better and for worse. When Hurricane Helene made its way to Western North Carolina on September 26, the couple had no idea what their community was about to endure. In the early morning after the storm hit, Gary woke up and could not find his wife. Upon locating Linda, who had fallen, Gary fell, too. They were unable to move until family members were able to come and check on them.

Linda and Gary were brought to Mission Hospital to evaluate the extent of their injuries. While they were bruised, they were grateful to be alive. In the aftermath of the storm, Mission Hospital nurses went the extra mile to ensure Linda and Gary were well taken care of, comfortable and, most importantly, together. Nurses brought the couple’s hospital beds next to one another and set up a dining space for them to enjoy meals together.

Matt Alligood 

When Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina, Matt Alligood, nursing director at Mission Hospital was  working at the hospital where he would remain for the next several days caring for patients and colleagues as they navigated the aftermath of the storm.

During this time, his family was at home unable to leave due to trees that had fallen on their home. Upon hearing about Matt’s situation, his HCA Healthcare colleagues sprang into action. To his surprise, when he arrived home a team had been contacted and was already clearing the trees and debris. After the trees were removed, his fellow colleagues shared breakfast with the Alligood family. Matt shared, “Words will never do this act of kindness justice.”

The support didn’t stop there. Hundreds of HCA Healthcare nurses from across the country showed up at Mission Hospital to assist our caregivers. Matt expressed, “They showed up with a smile on their face, eager to help, eager to give us just a little bit of reprieve. It’s been amazing.”

Taylor McCaulley 

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, we continue to see the best of humanity shine through. Taylor McCaulley, a nurse manager at Mission Hospital, was one of hundreds of dedicated colleagues that served our patients when the storm reached Western North Carolina. Throughout her 15-year nursing career, Taylor shared that she had never faced a moment like Hurricane Helene. She credits the extraordinary acts of service and teamwork displayed by her fellow colleagues as key to helping patients and  community make it through the storm. “You never want to be in a situation where you’re seeing all these people hurting physically and emotionally, but then on the other hand, you’re seeing all of these staff members that are coming in just to truly save the day,” Taylor shares. “It’s mind-blowing how far HCA Healthcare’s reach is. Not just for colleagues but the community. The efforts put into water restoration, power restoration and cell phone service.” Approximately 400 HCA Healthcare colleagues from sister facilities in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Texas, Kansas, Utah, and California arrived in the early days after the storm to provide support and relief for Mission Hospital caregivers. More than 40 physicians from HCA Healthcare hospitals were dispatched from other regions to support the community. Daily necessities were provided to Mission Hospital including water trucks that supply more than 200,000 gallons of water per day, hundreds of thousands of bottles of water, tens of thousands of gallons of fuel, satellite data networks and mobile units including kitchens, bathrooms and handwashing stations. Mini marts were opened inside all Mission Health hospitals to provide colleagues with free groceries, including food, water, and toiletries. We have also set up colleague laundry, sleep and shower facilities.

Jewelia Crowe

Looking for light during the horrific storm, we find some in the birth of baby Phoenix. Robbinsville resident Jewelia Crowe went in to labor as the storm was starting to roar through our area. At 1:51 a.m. on Sept. 27, baby Phoenix was born to Crowe and fiancé Samuel Dillard. Weighing just 2lbs 10 oz, Phoenix was taken to Mission Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where he remains getting the care he needs to thrive. As of Oct. 11, Mission Hospital has cared for more than 3,400 patients and delivered nearly 70 babies, since the start of the storm.

Sherri Morris 

During Hurricane Helene, many patients, like Sherri Morris, relied on Mission Health for essential care. While she endured the storm in her home, Sherri’s oxygen supply began to run low and like many in her community, she was without power. Unfortunately, this left Sherri unable to refill her oxygen tank at home. As time was critical to receive her essential oxygen support, Sherri’s son brought her to Mission Hospital for rapid, life-saving relief. Sherri shared her appreciation for the Mission Hospital family that supported her during her time of need. “These people have been fantastic,” Sherri shared. “They are angels.” The team at Mission Hospital made every provision for Sherri and others like her needing life-saving support in the middle of a disaster.

Ricky Cobbler 

Ricky Cobbler’s fiancé gave birth to the couple’s second child on Sept. 4. Baby Logan needed care in Mission Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where he was during Hurricane Helene. While his parents endured the storm in Edneyville, Logan was safe and sound at Mission. Their home was damaged by the hurricane and downed trees made it impossible to get down their road and they were unable to visit Logan for a week, but their faith in his care never wavered. It was a sweet reunion at Mission Hospital for the family, who were able to reunited with their 5-week-old infant. Dad Ricky expressed his gratitude for the care of the Mission NICU team and special thanks to nurse Bree who he said he “trusted 100%” with his son’s care.

Linda McDaris 

Linda McDaris lives in Weaverville and while her home was not damaged in the storm, the road to it was washed away. McDaris is on oxygen all the time and receives dialysis three times a week. She recounted the harrowing way Reems Creek Fire Department was able to get her from her home to Mission Hospital, “The road was completely gone and they waded through the water and carried me out in a basket.” With her road impassable and electricity out in the area, McDaris received her oxygen and her dialysis at Mission Hospital and mentioned the care of RN Myra Blackwell, who has been with Mission for 40 years. “She’s such a super person who goes above and beyond her duty. WE’ve had a few talks and she’s prayed with me and it’s really helped me.”

Colleagues 

The strength and compassion of Mission colleagues inspired and lifted others up in the wake of Helene.  The heroic efforts that many team members made to come into the hospital and help care for patients was extraordinary. In one case, a Mission nurse went back to her flooded home to retrieve her stethoscope from the mud, because when patients are your highest priority…when you believe in something bigger than yourself…It Shows.

Dr. Jamie Loggins 

Dr. Jamie Loggins is passionate about his patients’ weight loss journey even through these difficult times. Although many are still without supplies, he has worked in partnership with the staff at Pardee Bariatrics to setup a distribution center for patients with nutritional meals. We are incredibly fortunate to have physicians that care deeply for the wellbeing of their patients.

From colleagues around the area

Mission Hospital received love and support from colleagues around the area and the teams were so grateful for that caring connection. The NICU team from Duke traveled all the way to Asheville to shower the Mission NICU team with treats and love. They even made a banner which all of their staff members signed and stickers that say Duke 💗 Mission. The South Carolina Trauma Association delivered a heartfelt signed banner to Mission Hospital. They said they want us to know they are here for us and we are in their thoughts and prayers. Prisma Health also delivered care packages to some of the Mission Health hospitals in the region. The support from the healthcare family across the region has meant so much to the teams at Mission Health.