TriStar Hendersonville nurse's care leads to 90th birthday celebration for former patient

When Lucy Nelson hit the dance floor at her 90th birthday party this summer, her family couldn’t help but think of the nurse who helped make that moment possible.

Five years earlier, in the winter of 2020, 85-year-old Lucy Nelson was transferred from the TriStar Portland ER to the critical care unit (CCU) at TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center after testing positive for COVID-19. For eight of the nine days she spent in the CCU, Lucy was cared for by Caleb McKenney, RN, a steady, compassionate presence, not only for Lucy, but also for her daughter, Jill Pepper, who was unable to visit due to pandemic restrictions.

Through daily phone calls and FaceTime updates, Caleb kept the family informed and comforted during one of the most uncertain times of their lives.

That connection didn’t end when Lucy was discharged. The Nelson family has stayed in touch with Caleb over the years. He was invited to Lucy’s 86th birthday party and showed up with a bag of clementines, her favorite snack during her hospital stay.

This summer, Lucy celebrated her 90th birthday surrounded by family and friends. She spent two hours on the dance floor. Though Caleb couldn’t attend, he sent a heartfelt video message that brought Lucy to tears.

“Caleb’s care gave us more time. More birthdays, more holidays, more celebrations,” said Jill. “We wouldn’t have gotten all of that without him and TriStar Hendersonville.”

Caleb’s connection with Lucy is a powerful reminder of what it means to care like family.