Generosity: A solid foundation for the future

Edie Wells recalls frequently being in and out of the hospital over the past few decades, but the time she spent helping her mother through treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) before her passing stands out most.

“Thirty years have passed since I accompanied my mother, but the compassionate care and attention to her every need is something that has stayed with me in the years that followed,” she said. “When my husband was diagnosed with colon cancer seven years ago, we didn’t have to think about where we wanted to go, we knew. After several surgeries and an aggressive treatment plan, my husband passed away, but Baptist Health never failed to serve as my home away from home during two of the most important events in my life.”

When Edie’s friend asked her if she would be interested in volunteering her time to serve on the Baptist Health Foundation Greater Louisville board of directors, she didn’t hesitate to step forward and lend a hand despite it being “out of her wheelhouse.”

“My family received such good care here,” she said. “Our time at Baptist Health allowed me to cross paths with so many people of faith who supported me and my loved ones during times of need, and I want to help other people to have access to that type of care. A faith-based mission is rare to see in this setting, but entire departments of people who live up to that mission is something you won’t find anywhere else. When a nurse or physician takes the time to hold your hand or join you in prayer, that is the type of support you can’t sum up in words or put a price tag on — it is what helps to carry you through times of uncertainty and struggle.”

Edie believes that the community can play a big part in helping to provide the “bricks and mortar” that hold a hospital together. “Through partnership with philanthropy and the generosity of those around us, we can help to provide what builds a solid foundation of technology, equipment and facilities, but more so, we can help to equip the people who make up this wonderful organization with the tools they need to do their jobs to the best of their ability and save many lives in the process.”

“As I get older, there are a lot of things that I can’t do. I can’t wield a scalpel or oversee a surgery, but there are things I can do, and supporting Baptist Health Foundation Greater Louisville is one of them. Philanthropy is becoming a domino effect that not only benefits those around us right now, but it is putting the right things in place to enhance care for future generations. Through my efforts, I am helping ensure the health and livelihood of my children and my grandchildren, and to me, that is a gift that keeps on giving, and will keep on giving to them throughout their entire lives.”