January 9, 2026 – What began as a stressful hospital stay for Angela, one of our dedicated nurses, became an unforgettable celebration of love thanks to the compassion and creativity of our care team.
Angela was admitted for severe abdominal pain and underwent surgery just as her wedding anniversary approached. “I was heartbroken, thinking I’d miss celebrating our special day,” Angela shared. But the team had other plans. “They said, ‘We can take care of that,’” she recalled.
And they did. Angela and her husband, Christopher, were surprised with a beautifully prepared steak and shrimp dinner right in her hospital room. “It was delicious,” Angela said. “They came in and told me to cover my head and not peek… then they had it all set up. It was so nice.” The real gift, though, was how it made them feel: Christopher said it was the first time he’d seen Angela smile all week.
Moments like these remind us that life doesn’t stop in the hospital — and neither does love. Angela emphasized that the kindness she received is simply the culture at the hospital: “They’d do this for any of our patients; it’s really at the heart of our mission: making everyone feel valued and cared for,” she said.
AnnieBelle and Irmina of our Med Surg unit and a team of support staff behind the scenes helped make to make the evening unforgettable.
About HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital
HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital is a 222-bed acute care facility. The combined efforts of more than 400 skilled physicians and more than 900 dedicated employees have resulted in one of the most comprehensive healthcare facilities on Florida’s Treasure Coast. HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital offers a full range of services that include a birthing center, cardiac catheterization lab, minimally invasive robotic surgery, gynecologic, general and vascular surgery, and wound care with hyperbaric services. Additionally, HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital is home to the Orthopedic & Spine Institute and a senior and pediatric friendly ER with freestanding emergency rooms at Darwin Square and Stuart.
About HCA Florida Healthcare
HCA Florida Healthcare, a part of HCA Healthcare, is a family of more than 650 affiliated sites of care, including hospitals, physician practices, freestanding emergency rooms and urgent care centers. As one of the state’s leading healthcare networks, HCA Florida Healthcare’s 11,100 experienced doctors and more than 84,000 colleagues work together to deliver equitable, evidence-based collaborative care through more than 12 million patient encounters annually. HCA Florida Healthcare is committed to improving more lives in more ways and giving back to the communities it serves. In 2024, the network provided more than $1 billion in uncompensated care and contributed more than $3.7 million to community organizations across the state. In addition, HCA Florida Healthcare offers patients access to highly trained specialists, including the state’s most comprehensive cardiovascular network. A strong advocate for the next generation of healthcare professionals, HCA Florida Healthcare is a leader in in training future healthcare professionals, offering 151 Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs at 27 different hospitals with more than 2,400 residents. For more information, please visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.