Partners In Caring

As Herb Lister was getting ready for gallbladder surgery at Community Hospital, he asked the attendant wheeling him down the hall if they were pressed for time, if they might be anywhere near the Family Birth Center, if they might stop by for a visit en route to the operating room.

"You should have seen the birth center nurse's expression when this old goat showed up," says Lister. "She said, 'Are you lost?' I said, 'No, my daughter just gave birth to my granddaughter.' And two seconds later, I had baby Scarlett on my chest. Then off I went to surgery; and you know, I did much better because of that visit."

At the end of February 2008, Lister had a gallbladder attack, just about the time his expectant daughter went into labor. The two arrived at Community Hospital at the same time, and Scarlett was born the next afternoon. That evening, Lister went into surgery.

Scarlett went home the next day, but grandpa remained in the hospital another 10 days. Now both are doing well, and Lister is grateful for the results.

"I was already a donor to the hospital," he says, "and I'm certainly a big supporter now. Frankly, I was anxious to get out of there, but the staff that took care of me was just wonderful. And the facility is incredible. I like the people who work there, and I think Scarlett and I were very well taken care of."