A routine visit to an Iowa hospital turned into an unforgettable moment of compassion and teamwork after staff helped recover a patient’s lost family heirlooms.
At Grundy County Memorial Hospital, Susan Sinnwell arrived for X-rays and removed two heirloom rings passed down from her grandfather. To keep them safe, she wrapped them in a napkin. But after the appointment, the napkin was accidentally thrown away, and the rings ended up in the trash.
Once Sinnwell realized what had happened, she contacted hospital staff. That call set off an extraordinary effort involving the radiology department and the waste management team. According to the hospital, crews emptied the trash compactor and sifted through about 60 garbage bags using metal detectors. Any bag that set off an alarm was pulled aside and taken to the ambulance garage.
There, imaging manager Craig Buskohl used a mobile X-ray machine to scan the bags. After about 45 minutes of imaging, the rings were finally located.
“It was really rewarding,” Buskohl told CBS 2 Iowa. “Honestly, I didn’t think we were going to find them but we did.”
Hospital staff said caring for patients means more than medical treatment. For Sinnwell, that care meant everything.
“When he told me how many people helped and everything they did, I just couldn’t believe it,” she said, fighting back tears. “This is the best place for care.”
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