Former patient Leon Carangi receives a warm “hello” from his nurse Erika Gonzalez, R.N., at the Critical Care Champions Dinner held recently at Baptist Hospital. Carangi and fiancé, Vickie Rudasill, joined other former critical care patients at the special dinner to thank the doctors and nurses who cared for them during their long hospital stay. Carangi spent 57 days in the Critical Care Unit for a bacterial infection in his lungs.

 

Former patients who are chosen as “champions” are those who were critically ill and were considered having a high risk of dying, but beat the odds and survived. Not only have the “champions” overcome life-threatening illnesses and injuries, but they have won back their lives. More than 50 people attended the special evening. Photo by Mabel Rodriguez.