I have been a Southend Louisville Resident over 3/4's of my life. My roots with MEH run deep. My father was born at MEH on 11-11-50. My mother had many Life saving heart procedures done at MEH from 2000-2010. My grandfather received the best end of life care within the walls of MEH. I choose to work at MEH bc it is the one place I connect with where I feel there's a real since of community and family. I am coming up on 20 years with MEH, and I anticipate being at MEH another 20 till my retirement. There's not another mix of people anywhere in the city like the population that work and come in to be seen within the walls of our historic hospital. Southend Heart and Pride is what makes MEH such a wonderful place!

Born here in 1942. Graduated from the School of Nursing 1963. Worked as a staff nurse on the old “400”. Good memories of friends and patients at an excellent community based hospital.

I am an employee here for almost 24 years. MEH is a part of me, it is home. I love working in this community with my amazing leaders, co-workers, patients, physicians, etc. They are like family to me. I am so grateful for this opportunity to see the Hospital I love celebrating 150 years!

I am an employee but I have been Dr. Lusco I have a procedure at St. Mary's and about to have another procedure really friendly staff . I always get lost when coming to the hospital but I always get directions to get back on my way. I schedule for the surgery team and always appreciate the interaction that I receive with my fellow co-workers. Teamwork makes the dream work.

I have many wonderful memories of my time working at Mary & Elizabeth Hospital. One of my favorite memories was working at the hospital when the SCNs still lived in the E Wing "penthouse." It was just a few years ago when the last sister moved out (Sr. Alfreda). It's inspiring to think that today's employees are living out the mission of healing started by the SCNs 150 years ago. Here's to the next 150 years!

I had my tonsils and adenoids removed when I was 6, and the surgery was performed at Saints Mary & Elizabeth Hospital. It was supposed to be a simple procedure, and I was expected to go home the next morning. This was my first surgery, and I remember sharing a room with another girl who appeared to be a teenager who was having the same procedure, and when she returned to her room from surgery she was vomiting what looked like blood, which as a scared 6 year old, was traumatizing to watch, but the nurses who attended to her came back to speak with me about what I saw to comfort and ensure me this was unusual and would not happen to me. Unfortunately, I had serious complications and stopped breathing while in surgery as a side effect to the anesthesia used at that time. Thankfully, the team of providers and nurses were able to stabilize me, and as a precaution, kept me a few extra days under observation until I was able to recuperate at home. While I remained in the hospital a team of physicians and nurses checked on me regularly, and I was visited by candy stripers, various other personnel and even nuns. As a child, I didn't understand the seriousness of what had happened or why all these people were so concerned over me, but my mother was speaking to me about it after I had become an adult, and it was then I learned how a simple procedure can go horribly wrong. I also realized at that moment I owed my life to the skilled hands of the anesthesiology, surgical and nursing teams caring for me that day, and I am eternally thankful they possessed the skills necessary to counteract the effects of the anesthesia and bring me back to good health.

I started at this hospital when I was 26 years old; it was called St. Mary & Elizabeth at that time. It was my first job after completing my college associate's degree in HIM back in 2006. Right away everyone I encountered was very friendly and helpful. During my time a MEH I held both a first and third shift position and the moral was just amazing with the staff in all departments, not just my own. I was also there during the great flood and remember how shocked everyone was to see the massive amounts of rainwater that caused flooding in different parts of the hospital and the employee parking lot being flooded. I do remember leadership in all departments worked diligently and efficiently to make sure everyone was safe, and we got through the Code Yellow day. I also enjoyed small things that occurred for me when I was there. I had a after 90 days hire luncheon. It was a great time to communicate how you were fitting into your job and to meet all the other co-workers that worked in different areas of the hospital as well, and the nurses would have baking competitions open to everyone to enjoy and judge, and they would share their recipes (I got a great blueberry and banana dessert recipe from that). I even talked my (14yr) old niece to volunteer at the hospital for her first ever volunteer experience, and she expressed how she enjoyed helping in different areas and how everyone was so nice to her. I truly enjoyed working at MEH; it definitely had a huge impact for my continued career in the health care field and providing years of service to this great organization.

First, I was born at Mary & Elizabeth Hospital in 1971, so knowing that a birthing center is coming back is exciting. From there as a teenager, I volunteered as a candy striper, and that was my first experience in health care. I was assigned to the Nursing Administration office, and that's where I got the "bug" for being in the health care world. When I went to college at WKU, my degree was in Health Care Administration all because of my exposure at M&E. After 10 years in health care administration, I went back to school at Bellarmine for my second career and obtained my BS in Nursing. Once UofL Health obtained all the KentuckyOne Health facilities several years ago, I was able to get reacclimated with Mary & Elizabeth for a brief stent as we helped to join the Brown Cancer Center and M&E together bringing me full circle. I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for the positive experience I had at M&E all those years ago. Thank you!

I have been honored to work with our hospital for 24 years! As a chaplain, I have heard countless stories from patients and families. Stories of what our hospital has meant to this community. One of my favorites was after the flood in 2009. Our hospital was closed for a couple of weeks. Finally, our ED opened to admit just a few patients. The first patient told me that she had been sick for some days but wouldn't go to any other hospital! She waited until we opened!

Back in 1997, I decided to go back into the health care field and became a CNA. The plan was to go to work for Caritas Home Health. One of their offices was in this hospital on the fifth floor if, I remember correctly. In 1998 after working six months in long term care, I applied and was hired to be a home health aide working in Jefferson County with the hospital as my home office. I was to work the area around the hospital and the east end area for my patients. If another aide was off, I was also able to take their place for that day in other parts of Louisville. The hospital was the central site for local patients in their times of need, and I was lucky to have worked in and around the hospital during this time. Driving around I learned how to get to the hospital multiple ways, and I learned how to drive in downtown Louisville. It had always been a goal from high school to learn to drive in Louisville, since I was a girl from a tiny blink-your-eyes-and-you-were-through-it town, Loretto, KY. Working at St. Mary's & Elizabeth Hospital was such a wonderful time for me as I was beginning my time of working with health care workers and learning the basics of being a nurse someday. I worked with some wonderful home health nurses and aides who I remember with fond memories. One of those memories was when the nuns who still lived at the hospital on a floor within the hospital would make candy and goodies then sell it down near the lobby. That candy was amazing! Another one was when I would come to the drop box at the back of the hospital to drop off my paperwork of the day, and I would come in and visit the gift shop occasionally. They had the best jewelry in there. I still have some of those pieces from back then. The cafeteria back then cooked some delicious food, for a hospital. I ate there multiple times during my time working for Caritas. I was an outpatient through this hospital as well when I had to have minor surgery back in the 1990s, and the care I received there was wonderful and professional with caring above and beyond. The surgeon has since retired but still remembered. The nursing staff were caring and efficient. During nursing school, St. Mary's & Elizabeth was a clinical site during my second semester of nursing school. Each Saturday, I would drive up to Louisville and meet my nursing instructor, Cindy, who was a nurse working at St. Mary's & Elizabeth, and she would monitor eight students all day long. It was at this hospital I placed my first IV into an elderly gentleman. I nailed it on the first try, and Cindy was right there guiding me with words of encouragement. I had a great clinical rotation with her at this hospital. I took care of many patients who had stayed in St. Mary's & Elizabeth Hospital who have crossed over by now, and I sure miss their smiling faces. Again, the memories of working out of this hospital, being a student here and being a patient myself will always be with me as I continue my journey towards retirement someday in the future.

Well, Friday, June 14 started off like any other day. My wife and I were off work because we had originally planned a camping trip for Thursday through Sunday. The day went great, and then in the evening myself, my wife and one of my twin girls ending up falling asleep on our couch. About 11:30pm something woke up my wife. This was odd because I am the one that always pulls everyone off the couch to go to bed. She looked at me and said, “Honey, let's go to bed.” I didn’t say anything, but I started to get up but ended up stumbling. She asked me if I was okay, and I proceeded to start talking, but I was making no sense. Now my wife is actually a Nurse Practitioner and works at one of the Family Practices with UofL Health, and she knew almost instantly that I was having a stroke. She loaded me up in her car and took off to the hospital. Now she was not certain which hospital she was going too but she knew she had to get me to one quick. We live off of the Greenbelt, and when we ended up at the end of the Greenbelt it was either take a left and try to get me to Jewish or take a right and try to get me to Mary & Elizabeth. She said something told her to go right, and let me tell you that was the best decision ever. I also work for UofL Health in Supply Chain, and I am the only Capital Buyer for the whole network. We knew Mary & Elizabeth was a hospital that could help me, so we had no worries at all. As soon as my wife took me into the Emergency Room door, they were there with open arms. They started to Triage me, and one of the Head Nurses there who was a Travel Nurse named Lauren Sang immediately knew I was having a stroke. She reacted very quickly calling a “Code Stroke”, which initially her quick timing, saved my life. I did not have the normal signs of a stroke though. I walked in the door, was moving all of my extremities and was listening and trying to do what they asked me, but I was not doing the correct actions. I also could not speak and was struggling to communicate. The decision was made to give me TPA to try and combat the stroke. This medication was given to me over a 1hr period and would continue to work for the next 24 hours. When I entered the ED, I had no idea who I was. I could not tell you who my wife, kids or anything was. All of my numbers in my head were completely gone at this time. All I knew is that the medical staff was trying to help me. I was admitted into the ICU so they could observe me while this clotting agent was being administered. I met a travel RN here whose name was Savannah. She would proceed to reassure myself and my wife, guiding us through this process. She was amazing. I then encountered Tony in ICU who would care for me and watch me improve through the next day. He made sure the doctors were in contact with us and made sure I had everything I needed to improve. As the days went by, I had 2 CT Scans, an MRI and a Cath. The scan did show that I had a stroke and after they administered the drug is settled in the back of my brain. On Saturday, I knew who my wife and kids were. Then slowly everything else started to come back included the numbers that I had lost. All of the tests turned up multiple issues that I had no idea about. Cardiology was consulted due to a heart arrhythmia. I was having PVC’s and also going into V-Tach, but I never felt it. They believe this is why I may have had a stroke, but also during my cath they discovered that my heart muscle is very weak. They said it is more than likely caused by a viral illness and could have been caused by COVID I had several months ago. Dr. Attavar took over my case. She has been a godsend for my wife. She was supportive, caring, aggressive in my treatment and worked hand in hand with neurology to provide me with the best outcome. I am grateful to Dr. Attavar and Dr. Ummat for all of their help at this time. We have a long road ahead, but they are hopeful at this time. My journey is not over, and I truly believe that God has a plan for me. I am on medication to help my heart get stronger, and hopefully, when that happens, I can get a AICD/Pacemaker to keep my heart under control. I owe my life to Mary & Elizabeth Hospital and the fantastic staff that took care of me. I am very proud to tell people that I work for UofL Health and that our facilities are always on the cutting edge of technology. Thank you.

Our family has had 4 generations working with UofL Health. My grandmother worked in the Medical Records department at St. Mary & Elizabeth from 1960-1990, when she retired. She then worked part time until 1995. I have been with UofL Health for 3 years now. I came from the University of Louisville Campus Health Services where I worked for 13 years. I absolutely love the organization and the care we provide our community. It's always been important to me to serve the South End Community, as this is where I and my family were born and raised. My family saw early on the impact the organization had on my professional and personal life. My sister worked in the ICU at Mary & Elizabeth for several years before moving to a PRN position. I shared the opportunity with my mother. She is now working with the Cardiology Department at Mary & Elizabeth Campus. Shortly after, 2 of my sisters joined the team with Cardiology as well. My stepfather followed and is working with Primary Care at the M&E Campus, and most recently my son joined the Float Pool Team. Together our family is proud to serve our community here at Mary & Elizabeth. My mother, over the past two years, has had two surgeries at the Mary & Elizabeth Campus (Orthopedics and Cardiology). Before my father's passing, he was very ill, and his care was always here. We had many visits over his last years of life. Our experience here has always been a positive one, even though the circumstances were not always good. The physicians, nurses and other medical personal took excellent care of both of them. We are all patients of UofL Health providers in both Primary Care and Specialty and are confident and pleased with our care. We know that this is a place we trust with our own care and are confident in referring others here as well. We discuss often the pride we feel in working here at Mary & Elizabeth, especially because of the love that my grandmother had for this hospital. We know that she would be proud that generations of her family followed her and continue to serve this community passionately.

My husband was a patient from 8-22 until 2-15-23 on numerous occasions. He was given excellent care by the staff of Dr. Ummat, Dr. Ragavahn, Dr. Kahn, Dr. Lusco and, especially, Dr. Morgan ER doctor for Hospice. Dr. Ummat whom we give 100 percent for the care and comfort he gave to my husband.