Special Memories of St. Patrick Hospital
Celebrating 100 Years
Table of Contents |
| This letter was submitted by Ann Holcombe. Read story |
| A Call from up Above By: Laura Chenevert, RN. Read story |
| A Gift That Keeps Giving By: Mary Matte Read story |
| Fond Memories of St. Patrick Sisters Shared By: Cleo F. Watson of Tylertown, MS Read story |
| The Miracle of 1952 By: Naomi (Plotts) Kingham Gillis, Louisiana Read story |
| The Memories Run Deep By: Peggy Godeau Scott Anchorage, Alaska Read story |
Stories
The letter below was submitted by Ann Holcombe, daughter of Dr. R. Gordon Holcombe, Jr. and granddaughter of Dr. Holcombe, Sr. The letter was written to Dr. Holcombe, Jr. by a local resident whose life was saved by Dr. Holcombe, Sr., around 1920. Nearly 78 years after the accident, the patient contacted Dr. Holcombe by mail expressing his appreciation and gratitude.
September 28, 1998
Dear Dr. Holcombe, Jr.
An article recently published in the American Press reminded me of the first time I saw your father. I was about seven years old and it was around midnight. We lived in Hecker at the time and I had fallen out of a tree and remained unconscious so long that someone was sent to Lake Charles for the doctor. This all took place around 1920. Dr. Holcombe, Sr. saved my life. Your father was called many times to see about the country folks in Hecker and I believe he delivered all three children of Ab and Elise Goos at their house, just down the river from our place. Dr. Holcombe, Sr., and Dr. Fisher gave much service to the folks of Hecker and the surrounding area. They were held in high regard by all. Many times they received little or no payment for their services. I was born in Hecker, the son of Fred and Emma Hebert, the grandson of Francois (TaTa) Hebert (his old house still remains there by the Calcasieu River). After World War II, my brother and I established Hebert Brothers Lumber Company; which we operated until our retirement in 1988. The American Press article was excellent regarding your long-time practice, and I know that you are held in high regards as well, just like your father. I wish you many more years of a good and healthy life.
Sincerely,
I.L. (Mickey) Hebert
Lake Charles, Louisiana.
A Call from up Above
By: Laura Chenevert, RN
Former CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital Associate
Many years ago, while working in the CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital Intensive Care Unit, I experienced a sad loss that resulted in a very spiritually moving event. During the time I worked on the unit we had an elderly woman, by the name of Mrs. Jones, who was in critical condition and happened to be in room 2307. Her husband, who was also very sick, was admitted to St. Patrick Hospital as well and was placed in a hospital room, located directly one floor above his wife's room.
This loving couple had been married almost 50 years. Their only son, who was a physician living in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana area, came to Lake Charles to comfort his two very ill parents who were both hospitalized and in serious condition.
One day, Mrs. Jones suffered a cardiopulmonary arrest. All efforts to resuscitate her had failed and her doctor pronounced her dead with her son at her side. With tears streaming down his face, Dr. Jones told us that he would go upstairs to inform his father of his mother's death. Within a minute, a loud "Code Blue" announcement was heard throughout the halls of the hospital. The overhead speaker system informed medical professionals that the "Code Blue" was taking place on Unit 33, the nursing unit that was located directly above the ICCU Unit. The Code Blue team from ICCU immediately knew who it was. We rushed upstairs with tears already in our eyes only to find Dr. Jones doing CPR on his own father as huge tears poured down his face. Mr. Jones was in room 3320, the hospital room directly above the room that Mrs. Jones had just expired in.
With tears of sorrow and despair streaming down the son's face and the entire code blue team's faces, we proceeded to attempt all resuscitative measures but were unsuccessful. When we asked Dr Jones if his father arrested when given the news about his wife, he stated that he walked into his father's room only to find him pulseless and in cardiopulmonary arrest already.
With their deaths occurring within seconds of each other, we all knew that after almost 50 years together here on Earth they wanted to be together for eternity. We truly believe that when Mrs. Jones' soul was on its way up to heaven, she visited the room directly above hers to say goodbye, and her loving soul mate of many years went with her.
A Gift That Keeps Giving
By: Mary Matte
CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital Associate
Lake Charles, La.
A miracle was shown to us through the family of another patient at CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital. My father had fallen ill just before the Christmas holiday in 1997. He was admitted to CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital on December 13, and we were told that his condition was grave, and that he probably would not make it through the night.
Although his condition did improve, our family spent the better part of a month in the ICU/CCU waiting room at the hospital. During this time, we met another family whose loved one, Neil, was a young father with a teenage daughter. He was in ICU for a long time, and at times, they, too, were told that Neil probably would not live.
This family, in spite of their own worries and concerns, offered an unbelievable amount of support and inspiration to us. We attended mass in the hospital chapel each Sunday morning. On one particular Sunday, my father's condition appeared to be deteriorating and as we were leaving the chapel, I became very upset. Neil's sister, Theresa, approached me and gave me a hug. As she did, she pressed a beautiful green rosary into my hand. "Hold onto this," she told me. "It will give you strength beyond belief."
My father survived through the holiday season, and was even able to come home for Christmas. Immediately after the New Year, however, he was re-admitted to the ICU Unit. Our "guardian angel family"---Neil's family---was still there, too. My father died on January 12, 1998. Neil's father was strong enough to look beyond his own grief and leave his son's beside long enough to visit the funeral home where my father was taken to offer his condolences.
I carried that green rosary everywhere I went for almost two years. Occasionally I would encounter Neil's father, and he never failed to ask how my family was and to let me know we were still in his prayers.
My husband came home from work one day and told me that Neil had passed away. I felt compelled to visit the funeral home and return the green rosary to Theresa. At the funeral home, I approached Theresa and offered my sympathy. This time when we hugged, I pressed the rosary into her hand and said, "Hold onto this. It will give you strength beyond belief. Take it from someone who knows first-hand."
It was amazing that this family, while dealing with their own difficulties, still had so much support to offer strangers. While we haven't managed to keep in touch in the usual ways, that wonderful family is still in my prayers and I know in my heart, that I am in theirs.
Fond Memories of St. Patrick Sisters Shared
By: Cleo F. Watson of Tylertown, MS
Oh, the stories I could tell of my memories of St. Patrick Hospital. First, I was born there on November 6, 1933 and I lived in the shadows of the building until I married and left Lake Charles 54 years ago.
My Mother, Alma, was a nurse at St. Patrick for many years. During WWII when nurses were short she sometimes worked double shifts. Being a single mother, the Sisters took me under their wing and I was allowed to roam the halls and ran simple chores. Sister Depazi would get me to help her file things in the records room. She would treat me with the small cups of ice cream from her personal meal trays.
I spent many hours in the linen closet doing homework and sleeping while Mama worked. As I grew older, I was allowed to “help” clean the Emergency Room and Operating Rooms. Believe me I was well educated by all the “Mommy-Nuns” I answered to.
For those of you who remember this far back, my Great Aunt Minnie provided a place for hospital visitors to get a cup of coffee, a sandwich or meal since there was no cafeteria in the hospital in those days. This establishment was the beginning of Day's Cafe where several generations of people in Lake Charles patronized and also remember with fond memories. I remember Sr. Petronella giving me a sound spanking in the drive that led to the Emergency entrance. Being in the immediate neighborhood, all of us kids would hear the siren and follow the ambulance so we could look thru the columns to see what disaster had befallen that passenger. That particular day, due much to my being the last one running up the drive, there were two ambulances and the second one had to slow down to avoid me. As I said earlier, the nuns acted as though I belonged to them so Sr. Petranella snatched me up and proceeded to spank me. I always looked for a second one after that.
I love gardenias! There was a very large gardenia bush in the Sallier Cemetery, next door to the hospital. When the flowers were in bloom I would pick several of them and walk the halls looking for patient rooms that didn't have flowers and I would leave them a few. Mama was furious and was dressing me down about “stealing” the flowers from the cemetery. Sister Amelia came along and told Mama that it was okay for me to share those flowers with the sick. She said those residing under the bush would approve, too.
I do miss the Grotto that used to grace the front lawn of St. Patrick Hospital. It was so beautiful and the statue of the blessed Mother is a fond memory, too.
The Miracle of 1952
By: Naomi (Plotts) Kingham Gillis, Louisiana
This is the story of a true miracle that took place at St. Patrick Hospital in 1952. My Dad, Reverend Morris Plotts, and our family had moved to Lake Charles in 1951 to take the pastorate of a church. One Saturday afternoon he received a telephone call from a lady in our church. She said her grandbaby was dying at St. Patrick Hospital and she asked if he would come immediately to pray for her. He and my Mom quickly rushed to the hospital.
Looking down the long hospital corridor he could see a family in great distress, weeping uncontrollably with their arms around each other. They continued down the hallway to the Emergency Room doorway where they were motioned inside. There he found a room full of nurses and doctors standing quietly, sad faced. He noticed the baby lying on the bed motionless. The doctor asked Dad if he had come to administer the last rites for the baby. My Dad answered, "No, I have come to pray for healing for the child." The doctor answered it was too late, the baby had died! She had passed away about 10 minutes before he arrived. Dad said he wanted to pray for the baby anyway and the doctor said to go ahead.
Dad relates (on a video that was made in 1985 of him telling this story) he walked over to the baby, prayed an earnest, compassionate prayer for LIFE to be restored to this child! When finishing the prayer he noticed the baby’s eyes fluttering, open, and then a gasp of breath! The doctors and nurses were truly surprised for they had already unhooked all the life saving equipment and monitors from the baby. I’m sure the family was overwhelmed when they were told the baby had returned to life! GOD HAD ANSWERED THE PRAYER! The next Sunday the baby was brought to church by the entire family and dedicated to the Lord.
My Dad died in 1997 at the age of 91 years. We lost track of the baby and the family in the 55 years following. I had always wondered why the baby was so sick. So many pieces to the puzzle were not there. So, one day I made some phone calls and got a number to call that would give me some more information, perhaps. I called the number and a lady answered. I related who I was looking for and with a squeal on the other end of the phone she said, "I am that baby!" She lives in Moss Bluff and her name is Christine. She gave me directions to her house and I met up with her. I sat and talked with her and found out why she was in the hospital. Her mother was riding in a car with Christine, age 8 months, on her lap. The car was traveling down the main road in Moss Bluff and lost control on the loose gravel. Christine was thrown out of the open window into a ditch and was found unconscious. She was then rushed to St. Patrick Hospital.
I was glad to finally have all the pieces of the puzzle and I was also able to fill in some information she never knew. We both give all the PRAISE TO GOD for the miracle of life he restored to her. Christine is the mother of 4 children and Grandmother of 8. All 4 of her children are involved in ministry to God. Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!"
The Memories Run Deep
By: Peggy Godeau Scott Anchorage, Alaska
There are several occasions in my life time that I think back on the wonderful service and compassion provided at St. Patrick Hospital. In 1978, my sister, Shirley, was brought to St. Patrick Hospital after a near fatal car accident. Shirley spent several months there receiving care and treatment for her injuries. Our family camped out at the hospital with her all that time; before she was transported to a special needs hospital in Texas.
Then 1981, while visiting my previous mother-in-law who was dying of pancreatic cancer, I had a miscarriage in the restroom at St. Patrick Hospital. I ended up having to be hospitalized there as well. The next morning the nurses wheeled me down to my mother-in-law’s room to say our last goodbyes. My unborn child was going to heaven with its grandmother...how comforting for me.
On all occasions I remember feeling at home when entering the doors of that hospital. The people there were always kind and helpful. To this day I remember how St. Pat's was a special healing place, not only for the sick but also for those suffering from the loss of loved ones.
It's no wonder our parent’s anniversary is on St. Patrick's Day! Our mother was a nurse and aide at St. Patrick Hospital, my sister was a nurse aide there, and my other sister is a teacher of Radiology students in Lafayette.
We will always have fond memories of St. Patrick Hospital; an institute filled with warmth, kindness, and spirituality as well as physical healing. If I close my eyes and think of St. Patrick Hospital I can picture the many laughs and tears in the cafeteria, the smell as you walk into the hospital...and my sister lying on a circular bed listening to Linda Ronstandt's songs. Like the book, we laughed, we ate, we prayed, and we cried...
I can still remember my sister Shirley getting married at St. Patrick Hospital in 1974 when her husband was involved in an accident the week before their wedding. Twenty-five years later they renewed their vows at the hospital. What a special place!
I’m going on 52 years of age so the recollections go way back. Thanks for letting me share my memories! Happy Anniversary St. Patrick Hospital!
