With son Jake Easton home, Haylee and Shawn Ladner are looking forward to bringing the rest of their quintuplets home from the University of Mississippi Medical Center soon. Jake’s sisters are thriving in neonatal intensive care at the state’s only children’s hospital, Children’s of Mississippi.

Wednesday’s observance in the UMMC Cemetery was an opportunity for students at the Medical Center to express their gratitude for the contributions of their “first teachers” and “first patients”: anatomical donors. Dozens of donors’ family members and friends gathered to hear tributes to those who, as one student said, “didn’t wear capes, but were indeed heroes.”

From the time the Medical Center got its first COVID-19 patient in March 2020 to early this year, 69 Adult Emergency Department caregivers stayed on the job, coping with fear, frustration, hopelessness and sometimes personal tragedy. On April 26, they were recognized for perseverance and dedication with a special patch calling attention to their resilience, excellence and courage.

As the pandemic dragged on, a small group of Adult Emergency Department frontline staff stayed for the duration, caring for the sickest of the sick, be it someone felled by the virus or traumatically injured. They looked the pandemic in the face – and stared it down. Here are some of their stories.

Dylan Edwards of Brandon combines his undergraduate minor in political science with a PharmD education to analyze policy and advocate for patients. This spring, he’s been in the nation’s capital for an advanced pharmacy practice experience rotation with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and ASHP’s Government Relations team.

Mississippi State’s Bulldogs baseball team hit a home run with Children’s of Mississippi patients April 25 by spending an afternoon playing board games and coloring in the children’s hospital’s Rainbow Garden. The team brought surprises, including soft “baseballs” and mini bats, prompting a quick batting lesson during the afternoon of fun and games.

Several interesting events are scheduled for the upcoming week at the Medical Center.

Medical Center leadership is proud to acknowledge those employees who will celebrate service anniversaries during the week of May 1 - 7.