Melissia Boynton got the call about 3 a.m. on Mother’s Day that her new heart was available. Immediately, her plans changed from a barbecue around the family pool to a middle-of-the-night drive to Nashville to get her new heart.

The 5,704 nautical-mile trip is the farthest VUMC has traveled for an organ. The remarkable journey illustrates how new technologies make it possible to preserve organs longer, allowing Vanderbilt to look farther for a match.

Rhonda Bryant, LPN, works in in the inpatient unit at Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital. She is one of the latest group of DAISY Award winners at VUMC.

For her ability to problem solve and advocate for patients and staff, Kuntz was a named a Credo Award winner.

The presentation focused on the essential value of fundamental nursing care, connecting and being present with patients, and attending to their basic care needs, such as nutrition, mobility and oral health.

LSU baseball fan sporting a new set of lungs after VUMC transplant