Big Dreams
Date: February 26, 2007

At 43, Glen Arisman thought he had all the time in the world to reach his goals and make his dreams come true. The Registered Nurse had just completed chiropractic school and was planning to open his own practice. He had supported his family working weekends on Floyd Medical Center’s Cardiac Stepdown Unit while attending school during the week, and he made an impression with his compassion and expertise.

Glen’s plans changed recently when he learned he had advanced pancreatic cancer. The cancer had already spread to his lungs. His physician told him he had only a couple of months to live. Glen’s family and his co-workers took the news hard.

His wife knew at least one thing she wanted to do for her husband. For most all of his adult life Glen had wanted to visit Italy, to see Rome and its seven hills, and she wanted to make his dream come true. She decided to take out a second mortgage on their home to make it happen. Glen objected.

When Jennifer Braning, one of Glen’s co-workers, learned of Glen’s dream, she decided to make it happen. Jennifer had T-shirts printed, brought them to work and sold them for $25 each, explaining the money would go to Glen. Her determination proved contagious. Glen’s co-workers rallied. Vickie McGaugh, Mandy Durham, Shelena Chisolm, Jennifer and Rosemary Herod organized a T-shirt sale throughout the Floyd organization and accepted donations to Glen’s fund, which they decided to call “Buy a Dream.”

Shelena contacted a travel agent to find out costs and begin making arrangements, with permission from Glen’s family. The travel agent, moved by the group’s effort, waived the sales commission on the trip.

Ultimately the entire Cardiac Stepdown Unit–every team member on every shift–played an active role in the effort.

Ten short days later, the group had raised $7,200 to make Glen’s dream to see Rome, Italy, a reality. The staff decided to surprise Glen with their gift on his next regularly scheduled work day, establishing a “Glen Watch” with “spies” posted throughout the hospital, including the parking deck, to let the group know when he was arriving.

When he got to the 5-West nurses station, Glen was surprised with a shout of “We bought a dream!”

“There wasn’t a dry eye in the house,” Rosemary Herod said. “He couldn’t quit crying. We couldn’t quit crying. When I got up the next morning my heart was still full. He is such a wonderful person, wonderful person.”

Glen and his wife plan to leave for Italy on March 16 and will return March 28.

Mike Cornwell, director of critical care and cardiac services, said the entire Cardiac Stepdown Unit deserves recognition for this extraordinary effort.

“They essentially formed their own Make-a-Wish Foundation, and they succeeded beyond all expectations. In the history of this organization, there have been many examples of caring, compassion and generosity, but I think it would be hard to match the effort of this situation,” Mike said. “It embodies all the qualities and characteristics we, as an organization, seek from our employees and then some. It shows what a group of dedicated individuals, working as a team, can do.”

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