As the tertiary referral center for the northern two-thirds of Maine, thousands of people count on EMMC to be here when they or their loved ones need us, any hour, of any day throughout the year. Our doors don’t close at the end of the day, surgeries are not delayed due to weather, and patients aren’t sent home in observance of holidays. To be sure thousands of Mainers can count on our care when they need it, many of our employees sacrifice time with their families during the holidays to care for our patients.
For years, Tina Gist, RN, nurse manager of EMMC’s Women and Infant Services has been showing staff in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit how much she appreciates their sacrifices with home-cooked meals. Each year, Tina prepares her famous holiday dinner including eggplant parmesan, dessert, and all the trimmings. Tina also takes time to make each staff member a homemade tree ornament to adorn their family holiday tree.
This year, Tina became the Nurse Manager for all of EMMC’s Women and Infant Services, significantly increasing the number of staff for her holiday treats. While some may have thought this tradition had grown beyond what was possible, Tina didn’t let numbers get in her way. She continued her tradition; just as she had the years before. This time, she extended her warm wishes beyond the NICU to all the staff on Grant 7.
In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to abandon the extra touches that show others we care. Tina refused to do this. When faced with a challenge, she went above and beyond to show her commitment to her
co-workers. And for this, Tina has been awarded a Splash by her co-workers, EMMC’s highest honor.
The Moral of the Story:
“Dining with one’s friends and beloved family is certainly one of life’s primal and most innocent delights, one that is both soul-satisfying and eternal.” ~Julia Child
“Food for the body is not enough. There must be food for the soul.” ~Dorothy Day
An ocean wave crashing on the rocks does not intend to call attention to itself, but a splash of such power and beauty is worthy of notice.