Celebrating Excellent Care – Leo Callaghan celebrates Dr. Justin Elder

Leo Callaghan's experience with Beebe Healthcare began some 50 years ago when he and his family were living in Baltimore, Md. Callaghan would make visits to hospitals to offer a variety of medical devices and supplies to the doctors and nurses who provided direct care to patients in operating rooms.

"I called upon Beebe in the 1960s when the hospital's main entrance was through the great white columns of the Shaw Building. I would make a huge loop from our home in Baltimore, into Washington D.C., Virginia, through southern Maryland and into Delaware, all the way up to Wilmington. In all of my travels, I remember this area the best. Lewes was such a pretty little town, here by the beach, and the best part was coming to Beebe," Callaghan recalled. Summertime was especially nice. "As I was heading home I would stop on the highway to buy all kinds of fresh produce at roadside stands. I can remember buying a 50 pound sack of potatoes for $2; a full crate of corn for $5; seven pounds of tomatoes for $1; and three huge, sweet watermelons for only $1. I would fill the back of my car and take it home to share with our friends and neighbors who looked out for my family while I was away." When Leo and his wife, Mary Anne, made their move several years ago, they knew this would be a great place to retire. Leo added, "We enjoy this community so very much, the people in Lewes have always been so nice. People are polite and courteous to each other, even on the road; waiting for folks to walk across the street, letting someone get out into traffic."

This summer, Leo had a new and different experience with Beebe, as a patient. "I've been a very healthy person for most of my life. In mid-June we came back from Europe and about three weeks later I started to get a sore throat. I did the usual home remedy things, my throat started feeling a little better, and then I hit a wall. All of the sudden, I felt just terrible." Leo told Mary Anne, "I think I need to go to the Emergency Room. My throat is literally closing and my breathing is getting labored." Leo couldn't speak, he could barely breathe, and his walking pace was limited to baby steps. Dr. Bailey examined Leo in Beebe Healthcare's Emergency Department, looked at his records and ordered a CAT scan. The scan revealed a huge abscess in Leo's throat that was entangling his vocal cords and closing his airway. "When I first met Dr. Justin Elder, he was dressed in a red polo shirt and shorts – he was on call and drove in immediately when they called about my situation. Dr. Elder said he needed to operate right away and that he may need to do a tracheotomy. He made me feel so comfortable, I trusted him and said, 'I don't care what you have to do, just do it,' and I was immediately taken to the operating room."

Elder performed the tracheotomy and Leo recuperated in the Intensive Care Unit for five days. Mary Anne and son Michael spent hours by his side, and Leo remembers, "Every single person who came into my room wanted to do something for my betterment. Every doctor, every nurse and every tech had a high level of expertise and worked for my betterment. If one of us had a question, someone would come in with an answer. If we had a need, someone met it. We all enjoyed a very high level of excellent care – everywhere. This was very important. Beebe personifies excellent care."

Leo reflected on his experience and added these thoughts: "Beebe Healthcare is growing by leaps and bounds. Sometimes different areas within a hospital might have a difficult time keeping up with each other because they are growing at different rates, but that was not my experience at Beebe. I believe Beebe is making great efforts to grow to meet all of our community's growing needs. Since we moved to Lewes, my wife has wanted me to get a doctor here, locally, and now I have one – at Beebe!"

Leo and his family made a generous donation to the Beebe Medical Foundation's Celebrate Excellent Care program to honor Dr. Justin Elder and the Beebe Healthcare team members who provided his care during his stay at the hospital. Dr. Elder was honored by Leo's donation, "Everyone at Beebe knows that every patient is grateful for the care, treatment and support we provide as we help them heal. It is especially gratifying when someone like Leo seeks a way to say thank you and offer special recognition for all of the team members who were a part of his care. I am honored by Leo's gift and truly appreciative because his generous donation will help Beebe to continue to grow and provide excellent care for everyone in our community."

As a community-owned, not-for-profit healthcare system, Beebe continues to depend on the generous support of individuals, corporations, businesses, and private foundations. All gifts, large or small, to Beebe Healthcare, are tax deductible and are channeled through Beebe Medical Foundation. Please consider making a gift today and share your amazing stories with our community. To learn more about how you can Celebrate Excellent Care, contact the Beebe Medical Foundation at 302-644-2900, or write to foundation@beebehealthcare.org.