A place of honor: UMC dedicates garden as tribute to patients, healthcare workers

Shambhavi Rimal, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
·2 min read
UMC Health System unveiled the UMC Honor Garden Thursday evening dedicated to forever honor those lost, those saved, and our staff who have cared for all throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
UMC Health System unveiled the UMC Honor Garden Thursday evening dedicated to forever honor those lost, those saved, and our staff who have cared for all throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

UMC Health System has unveiled the UMC Honor Garden dedicated to forever honor those lost, those saved, and the hospital's staff who have cared for the Lubbock community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This Honor Garden was established to provide a place to memorialize those we lost to COVID, especially those in the UMC Family," Mark Funderburk, president and CEO at UMC Health System, said during a ceremony earlier this month. “Moreover, to honor the entire healthcare team for their extraordinary work and sacrifice they continue to deliver every single day.”

The garden has a memorial marker to honor each employee; Harold Loveless Operating room, Barbara Jenkins Armstrong Food and Nutrition, Dr. Jack McCarty UMC Physicians, and Michael Leal CICU, who lost their lives due to COVID-19.
The garden has a memorial marker to honor each employee; Harold Loveless Operating room, Barbara Jenkins Armstrong Food and Nutrition, Dr. Jack McCarty UMC Physicians, and Michael Leal CICU, who lost their lives due to COVID-19.

Hospital staff and officials also gathered in the garden for a private dedication with the families of four UMC employees who lost their lives due to COVID-19, Funderburk said.

The garden has a memorial marker to honor each employee; the Harold Loveless Operating Room, Barbara Jenkins Armstrong Food and Nutrition, Dr. Jack McCarty UMC Physicians, and Michael Leal CICU, Funderburk said.

Funderburk
Funderburk

“A memorial marker for each one of them, which will be there permanently as a permanent remembrance of the impact they had on this organization,” Funderburk said.

Mike Ragain, Chief Medical Officer at UMC Health System, recognized the caregivers at UMC for their service to our community during the ongoing pandemic.

Ragain said the COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging situation on so many levels and caregivers have selflessly served patients in an exemplary, dedicated and caring way.

“These selfless professionals not only had to cope with personal safety concerns, but also grapple with treating a new disease where there was much unknown,” Ragain said. “In this dark time, our physicians and health care workers persevered and discovered how to treat illness and help patients with COVID. Always, they showed compassion, courage, dedication and professionalism.”

Lubbock ISD Chief Operating Officer Rick Rodriguez, one of the patients at UMC who struggled with COVID-19 and overcame it, shared his experience at the event.

The garden has a memorial marker to honor each employee; Harold Loveless Operating room, Barbara Jenkins Armstrong Food and Nutrition, Dr. Jack McCarty UMC Physicians, and Michael Leal CICU, who lost their lives due to COVID-19.
The garden has a memorial marker to honor each employee; Harold Loveless Operating room, Barbara Jenkins Armstrong Food and Nutrition, Dr. Jack McCarty UMC Physicians, and Michael Leal CICU, who lost their lives due to COVID-19.
The garden has a memorial marker to honor each employee; Harold Loveless Operating room, Barbara Jenkins Armstrong Food and Nutrition, Dr. Jack McCarty UMC Physicians, and Michael Leal CICU, who lost their lives due to COVID-19.
The garden has a memorial marker to honor each employee; Harold Loveless Operating room, Barbara Jenkins Armstrong Food and Nutrition, Dr. Jack McCarty UMC Physicians, and Michael Leal CICU, who lost their lives due to COVID-19.
The garden has a memorial marker to honor each employee; Harold Loveless Operating room, Barbara Jenkins Armstrong Food and Nutrition, Dr. Jack McCarty UMC Physicians, and Michael Leal CICU, who lost their lives due to COVID-19.
The garden has a memorial marker to honor each employee; Harold Loveless Operating room, Barbara Jenkins Armstrong Food and Nutrition, Dr. Jack McCarty UMC Physicians, and Michael Leal CICU, who lost their lives due to COVID-19.

Rodriguez said he was honored to get the opportunity to show his gratitude and gratefulness for the care he received during his treatment.

“Many lives have been impacted by this virus in a negative manner and on behalf of survivors of it, I want to thank you for your commitment and sacrifices that you've made and continue to make for your profession during a time when our community needs you most,” Rodriguez said.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock UMC dedicates garden as tribute to patients, healthcare workers