In Norwood Hospital’s clinical laboratory the clock’s hands pointed to 11 30 p.m. Linda Pelusi, laboratory technician, had worked her usual day shift, was back in the lab to “cover” for the evening. Ann Phelan, R N , blood bank supervisor, completed a full working day, and in the evening, delivered a talk on “intravenous and blood” at the Civil Defense Headquarters in Norwood, and because the lab had been extremely busy when she left the Hospital, she dropped back at that hour to see it she was needed.
Meanwhile, Herbert O’Brien, x-ray technician, was processing films in the x-ray department.
Just then the call came — fresh blood was needed for an emergency procedure.Although there was an ample supply of the right blood type stored in the Hospital’s blood bank, specific properties pre-se in fresh blood were needed for this particular case Because getting donors to the Hospital would waste precious time, and because they had the right blood type, these three young people immediately volunteered to donate their blood. Linda and Herbie each gave a pint, Ann cross-matched and processed the blood, in approximately forty minutes it was being administered to the patient.
On being queried about what they had done, all three emphatically insisted that it was absolutely nothing and made light of the entire episode with, “It’s all in a day’s work” – then pointed out that there were two more employees with the same blood type standing by if more were needed.
All in a day’s work perhaps — yet hospital authorities point out that this type of devotion to duty is indicative of the high calibre of the Hospital’s employees who, day in — day out — perform “above and beyond the call of duty” throughout the Hospital without thought of compensation or special recognition.
(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)