The medical teams and support staff at Loma Linda University Medical Center worked fervently to save the lives of those who were brought through the emergency department in the aftermath of last month’s mass shooting.
While hearts cried for those who could not be helped, staff remained diligent with the task at hand, yet their hearts, thoughts and prayers were with all victims and their families during the hours and days following the tragic event.
Local hospitals, including University of Southern California Medical Center, RADY’s Children’s Hospital (San Diego, CA) and University of California, Irvine, offered to send staff to assist in caring for victims and their loved ones.
On the day of the tragedy, local businesses sent food staples, including lunches from St Frances Hospital, Angelo’s restaurant and Firehouse Subs; the Double Tree Inn sent cookies, and Costco sent pallets of water to sustain employees facing long hours of care and service. Pizza deliveries also arrived from anonymous emergency department nurses from Boston and Texas.
Over the past several weeks, hospital staff and administration have received numerous cards and letters from members of the local community and from communities and individuals all across the country. The Medical Center of Aurora sent a large banner with over 100 staff signatures and a note of encouragement from Dan Miller, president and CEO.
This banner was similar to the one that they received in the days following the Aurora theater shooting that was sent to them by the hospital that received victims from the mass shooting at Virginia Tech. The banner they had received was deeply meaningful for them, and they paid it forward to Loma Linda University Medical Center staff and medical teams as a symbol of love, prayers, support and caring.
“We are so moved by these quiet acts of fraternity and compassion,” said LLUMC CEO Kerry Heinrich.
Those letters and cards have been compiled onto a large banner that is now hanging with the banner from Aurora downstairs in the A-level hallway of the Medical Center near the elevators and emergency department.
Loma Linda University Health staff and students are invited to take a moment to read these heartfelt messages.