ChristianaCare Hosts Reunion To Honor Medical Team Who Saved Colleague’s Husband

Hosted by ChristianaCare’s Center for WorkLife Wellbeing and Patient Experience, the Thank You Project program reconnects patients with caregivers to express their gratitude. (Photo provided by ChristianaCare)

NEWARK- ChristianaCare recently hosted a heartfelt reunion at its Newark campus to honor the physicians, nurses, and staff who sprang into action to save the life of Mrugesh Patel, the husband of one of their own, during a medical emergency in the summer of 2023.

The event brought together about 20 caregivers who played a role in Patel’s emergency care and recovery. It was organized to acknowledge the efforts made by ChristianaCare’s Medicine-Pediatrics (Med-Peds) team and Surgical Intensive Care Unit staff after Patel experienced a neurological emergency and lost consciousness at a summer pool party hosted by fellow Med-Peds physicians.

Patel, whose wife Dr. Himani Divatia, D.O., FACP, FAAP, is a longtime Med-Peds physician, was pulled from the pool and received life-saving care on the spot by friends, colleagues, and students of his wife.

“It was a traumatic experience, but because of everybody in this room, there is a next chapter and a positive story to come out of this,” said Dr. Bryan Haimes, an Internal Medicine-Pediatrics hospitalist who was among the first to respond.

For Divatia, the experience brought full circle the strength of a team she had spoken of for years.

“Everybody was truly there that day for a reason,” Dr. Divatia said.

Over the next five days, Patel remained in the care of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit.

“I saw all these things Himani had talked about the past 13 or 14 years in real life,” Patel said. “And the biggest thing I learned is that it takes more than medical knowledge to save a life — it’s the love, care and empathy shown during recovery, to both me and my family. You did everything you could to give me a chance at recovery, and once I started to recover, the confidence and support I received from you made all the difference.”

During the reunion, caregivers shared stories of the event, including the clarity and calm they relied on in the moment. Nurses recounted Patel’s earliest signs of recovery.

“We do a really hard job – we are in that daily grind,” said Lauren Rosenthal, BSN, RN.

“So, it’s really nice for you to come back and thank us, and it’s wonderful to see how well you’re doing.”

Dr. Tabassum Salam, ChristianaCare’s chief learning officer, reflected on the power of community within the health system.

“Himani, you’ve given so much to all of us – especially your students,” Salam said. “It had to come back to you and your family. When I need to remind myself of why we do what we do in health care and education, I think about the amazing positivity in that room.”

Divatia credited the professionalism and poise of the physicians and nurses involved, including trauma surgeon Dr. Raymond Green, who checked in personally after a long shift.

“With every decision we make as medical professionals, we understand there are tradeoffs, risks and unknowns,” Divatia said. “Dr. Green stayed steadfast and believed in his team, and he went above and beyond to make sure we understood their decision-making.”

Patel’s care was led by Dr. Leonard Mason III and Dr. Kimberly Gannon, with early intervention from physician assistant Robert Kondos, who Divatia credited with delivering “the hardest, strongest and most essential first breath.”

ChristianaCare’s event, is part of a broader effort to recognize caregivers and promote well-being through the Center for WorkLife Wellbeing, highlighted the emotional and human side of medical work.