Why Your Support Matters
Emergency Department patient admires staff's ability to remain caring under pressure
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At 83 years old, Bailey continues to stay active, playing the organ at her church and teaching crafts as she has done for many years. She recently moved from West Wareham to the Merchant Square Partnership in New Bedford to reduce her commute to her appointments.
Asked what keeps her going, she said, "It's your attitude that counts."
Even during a recent trip to the St. Luke's Emergency Department after a terrible car accident, she looked past her own calamity to appreciate the skill and concern of the people treating her.
"The people who work in the Emergency Department are really amazing and very caring — especially when you consider the pressure they work under," Bailey said. "They never know what's coming next."
Bailey was on her way to breakfast when a driver of a pickup truck ran an intersection and broadsided the driver's side of her new Saturn. The force of the impact trapped her in the car and emergency personnel had to pry the car open to free her.
"The paramedic told me that if I hadn't been wearing my seat belt I would have been killed," she said.
At the St. Luke's ED, Bailey was found to have a hip so severely bruised as to render her unable to walk.
"The staff there was very nice and professional," she said. "They made sure that I was comfortable and let me know that they hadn't forgotten about me when I was waiting."
The behavior did not surprise Bailey. She had received the same care and consideration eight years earlier when a fall at church had also sent her to the ED.
"I was there for four hours while they were trying to find me a room and they kept apologizing to me," she said. "I knew it wasn't their fault. It was obvious they were all working very hard to care for their patients."
That accident, nearly a decade ago, left Bailey with a broken hip, which was replaced with a titanium implant.
After each of her trips to the ED, Bailey was transferred to Sippican Health Care Center in Marion for rehabilitation.
Back in her apartment, Bailey continues to receive physical therapy three times a week and is progressing rapidly. She currently gets rides to church where she has played the organ for 13 years but hopes to be back behind the wheel soon.
But no matter what she does, it is obvious her appreciation for the St. Luke's ED is long lasting.
"People complain about long wait times in the Emergency Department," she said. "I just want to say to them, 'We're lucky to have such good people to help us.'"
How you can help.
Your support is vital to the success of the New St. Luke's. To learn more about the project — and how your donation can help — please contact us at:
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Barbara H. Mulville, CFRE
Senior Vice President of External Affairs
St. Luke's Hospital
101 Page Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
508-961-5358
externalaffairs@southcoast.org
Learn more about how you can support St. Luke's.
