Regional Medical Center | Thrive for Life | Fall 2018

IN 1958, then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the law that created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration—NASA. The microchip was co-invented by Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments and Robert Noyce of Fairchild Semiconductor. Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald topped the music charts. South Pacific and The Bridge on the River Kwai filled movie screens across the nation. And in Anniston, Alabama, at 30 years old, Sara Mell Edwards became one of the first two volunteers at Anniston Memorial Hospital, now known as Regional Medical Center (RMC). “I didn’t realize it had been 60 years,” reflects Edwards. “The head of volunteers at the hospital asked me and a friend to come volunteer—and we did!” Leaving a valuable legacy A recent injury caused Edwards to stop volunteering, after 60 years of serving others and doing good at RMC. But her fingerprints and footprints will be seen in the halls of the hospital for a long time to come. Edwards was honored by RMC on Aug. 7 with a reception at Classic On Noble. In addition, the RMC Auxiliary gifted a $6,000 training manikin—appropriately named Sara— for nurses to use in training. “Sara Mell’s legacy, through this gift for nurses’ training, will have an impact on people for years to come,” says Vickie Simmons, Auxiliary director. Edwards and her friend “did it all” in the early years. Over time, she worked the book cart, coffee cart, patient mail and more. She enjoyed interacting with patients and their families while serving in these various roles. Most recently, she helped keep track of volunteer hours, transferring details from the sign-in and sign-out sheets to volunteer records. Edwards was born and raised Sara Mell Edwards (left) with Vickie Simmons, RMC Auxiliary director, at the reception in Edwards’ honor To serve others and to do GOOD in Birmingham. She and her late husband, Leslie Edwards Jr., met at the University of Alabama and moved to Anniston as husband and wife. They have three children, six grandchildren and another grandchild on the way! She looks forward to full recovery and returning to her study club, garden guild, bridge and more. Fun and rewarding When asked how she might convince someone to volunteer at RMC, Edwards says they would only have to see that she enjoyed it so much! “It was fun, enjoyable and rewarding,” she shares. The RMC Auxiliary includes approximately 100 members in various volunteer roles throughout the hospital. You can see them greeting hospital visitors, delivering newspapers and flowers to patients, and working in the gift What is the essence of life? To serve others and to do good. —Aristotle Regional Medical Center 6 VOLUNTEERS