Series note: As we close out 2021, we wanted to take some time to reflect upon the past year and the amazing stories that our bravest patients at Atrium Health have had throughout the year. Take a trip down memory lane with us in our 12 Days of Christmas.
On the first day of Christmas🎄
How a Near-Death Experience with COVID-19 Changed Tara’s Outlook on the Vaccine
Tara Jones didn’t believe she’d ever catch COVID-19 and had no plans to ever get the vaccine. But after recovering from a severe case of the virus that nearly took her life, she’s fully vaccinated and is encouraging others to do so as well. Hear her story and why she’s advocating for the vaccine.
On the second day of Christmas❄️
A Survivor Shares Lessons About Strokes, Learned the Hard Way
Donald “Lucky” Polk learned two hard lessons about strokes, and now, he wants to spread stroke awareness to others.
On the third day of Christmas 🎁
Wake Forest School of Medicine – Charlotte
For months, following the announcement that Atrium Health and Wake Forest Baptist Health have combined to operate as a single enterprise, the discussion around the Queen City has been where a second campus of Wake Forest School of Medicine will be located in Charlotte. Leaders from Atrium Health, Wake Forest Baptist Health and Wake Forest University announced this year that they’ve chosen a 20-acre site in midtown Charlotte, at the current corner of South McDowell Street and Baxter Street, adjacent to US-277.
On the fourth day of Christmas 🕯️
Andrea Was Used to Running Through Anything — Until Endometriosis Almost Stopped Her in Her Tracks
Andrea is a marathon runner, a running coach, and a mom, but she was sidelined by incredible pain with no clear cause. Her journey to feeling better was a marathon in its own right, requiring multiple doctors and tests before she had a name for the cause of her pain: endometriosis. Finally, she found the right doctor and the right treatment. Now, she’s running more miles than ever before.
On the fifth day of Christmas 🦌
Lateasa’s Plea After COVID-19 Hospitalization
Lateasa McLean’s stance on COVID-19 vaccination has changed after a devastating hospital stay. She wants others to avoid the mistake she made.
On the sixth day of Christmas🎅
A Weekend to Remember: Healthcare Heroes Share Experience Attending Super Bowl LV
As healthcare workers continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, four well-deserving Atrium Health teammates were recognized for their service and sacrifice with a trip to Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Fla. Read more to follow their journey to the Sunshine State!
On the seventh day of Christmas🍪
After a Severe Brain Injury, Trauma Survivor Reunites with Care Team
The last thing Jabari remembered before his accident was switching lanes behind a truck. The next memory he had was waking up in the STICU at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center. Thanks to the hard-working Atrium Health trauma and rehabilitation teams who cared for Jabari, he now serves as a powerful example of human strength and resilience.
On the eighth day of Christmas ☃️
A Heartwarming Meet-up
Bobby Davis had congestive heart failure for 10 years. After being evaluated at Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute, Bobby got a second chance at life and received a heart transplant at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center.
Bobby then began writing letters to Bill Scruggs' family, who’d given Bobby the tremendous gift of a new heart.
Watch the heartwarming meet-up of the two families.
On the ninth day of Christmas 🔔
A Journey from Despair to Hope: Scott Finds Healing Thanks to Hernia Care
A routine surgery to repair 56-year-old Scott Gilpin’s abdominal hernia turned out to be anything but. After nearly a year battle with sepsis, blood clots, and a series of complications, Scott traveled across state lines to gain back his quality of life and find life-saving answers at Atrium Health’s world-renowned Carolinas Hernia Institute.
On the tenth day of Christmas 🤶
First-in-World Procedure Repairs Leaky Heart Valve with the CardioMech Mitral Valve Repair System (MVRS)
Heart valve surgery has increasing risk with overall age and health, which is why doctors and researchers at Atrium Health have been pioneering the use of less invasive valve repair technologies. Learn how over a decade of innovation led Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute to be selected to perform the first catheter-based mitral valve chordal repair in the world with the CardioMech MVRS technology.
Caution: CardioMech MVRS is an investigational device.
Read moreOn the eleventh day of Christmas 🎶
After Surviving Five Gunshot Wounds During a Home Invasion, Timothy Gives Thanks to Level I Trauma Center
Expert care from the team at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center – the region’s only Level I Trauma Center – helped Timothy survive from life-threatening injuries after he was shot five times during a home invasion.
And on the twelfth day of Christmas 🌟
Artists Paint Teammate Portraits to Express Gratitude
This year, a group of local artists painted portraits of our teammates to say thank you for the hard work they've displayed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The artwork was displayed proudly at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center for several weeks. Happy Holidays, and remember to express your gratitude toward loved ones this holiday season!
We're proud for the opportunity to serve each and every patient who walks through our doors, and are grateful for our teammates who work so hard each and every day to ensure our patients are safe and cared for. We hope you take some time to read through some of these amazing stories and are able to reflect on some of the things to be grateful for in your own lives. And with that, we hope you have a healthy and safe this holiday season!
