Sobbing hospital staff form guard of honor for beloved children’s nurse, 58, as she is taken off life support after stroke and wheeled away for organ donation surgery
A tear-jerking video showed a beloved pediatric nurse receiving a guard of honor from colleagues after she was taken off life support and wheeled away for organ donation surgery.
Patrice Sanders, 58, died Thursday, distraught family members and coworkers lined the hallways of Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno as her body was taken to an operating room.
Her sister Paige was in tears as she walked down the hallway behind the hospital bed.
“It’s really moving to see all the people she touched and meant so much to,” she said ABC-13.
Patrice was first diagnosed with gastroenteritis before doctors determined she had suffered a bilateral stroke. Her health continued to deteriorate.
Hospital staff formed a guard of honor to pay tribute to beloved California pediatric nurse Patrice Sanders, who died after suffering a stroke
Her sister Paige (right) was in tears as she walked down the hallway behind the hospital bed
Devastatingly sad images of Patrice’s farewell have been shared by her family in the hope of encouraging other people to sign up for organ donation.
Nurses were seen crying while others squeezed their hands as their beloved colleague made her final journey.
Her family followed closely and were visibly saddened by the death of their loved one.
Patrice, who was a nurse at Valley Children’s Hospital for 36 years, recently called her sister to tell her she wasn’t feeling well.
She subsequently underwent tests and was diagnosed with gastroenteritis, but she continued to feel ill.
Her family took her back to the hospital, where doctors discovered she had suffered a bilateral stroke.
“We met with the surgeon who told us that her likely outcome would not be favorable, that she would have many disabilities,” Paige said.
Patrice made a series of end-of-life requests, including donating her organs, and her family wanted to honor this.
Patrice Sanders was wheeled away for surgery to donate her organs Thursday as workers paid their respects at Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno.
Nurses cried while others squeezed her hand as she was taken for organ donation surgery
Patrice made a series of end-of-life requests, including donating her organs, and her family wanted to honor this
“She saw many children die at Valley’s Children’s during her time there as a nurse. She always had great respect for the children who donated their organs, and I think that example for her was an inspiration to her,” Paige added.
Jaclyn Manzanedo, who works at Donor Network West, said about 22,000 people in California are waiting for an organ transplant.
“Giving the gift of life seems to be in line with what she has done all her life,” she said.
“It’s a beautiful way to leave behind the legacy she left both during her lifetime and after her death.”
Patrice’s family celebrates the life she lived and will remember the love she often showed to others.
“She was deeply loved, deeply loved and continues to love others she doesn’t even know,” her sister Paige said.