Intermountain Stories

When Peter Hammond was in end-stage liver failure and in dire need of a transplant, he was among the first patients in the nation to accept a healthy liver infected with hepatitis C and undergo a high-risk liver transplant. He was later cured of the disease.

Jerry Harrop and Lowell Harrop are brothers who serve as volunteers at McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah. For many years, they—along with other pianists—have shared their musical talents playing beautiful music on the grand piano in the four-story hospital lobby, bringing peace and joy to hospital patients and guests.

Walt Brooks comes from a line of respected educators and historians in the southern Utah city of St. George. When he was young, Walt got into trouble a time or two, and finally his father took him down to the courthouse and told him to pick out another name because he wasn’t worthy of his grandfather’s. Walt shaped up, is currently serving as a Utah State Representative, and is passing along the importance of personal accountability to his daughter, Meli. “What you do in life does affect other people, especially people you care about.”

Exercise physiologist Tiffany Gust’s mantra, “Play big—because you can and because you're worth it,” is reflected in her passion for triathlons and even a full-distance ironman. Then Tiffany had a series of mini-strokes and learned she had a hole in her heart. She was devastated, but came back strong, continuing her commitment to fitness and to inspiring others. Tiffany says to fellow caregiver Christy Lawson, “I know you would like to do a triathlon, and I would love to help you reach that goal.”

Surgeon Shane Lewis, MD, finds that listening to patients and learning more about who they are makes his work more effective and more satisfying. He and his wife, Dixie, share memories of one surgery patient, an 80-year-old Vietnam vet, who was worried about his wife at home alone. Dr. Lewis and other clinicians personally checked on his wife and made sure she had what she needed, which helped the patient have a better outcome. “If we operate from a space of empathy, I think we give far better care.” 

Neonatologist Erick Ridout, MD, has helped care for hundreds of preemies needing critical care. His work with other clinicians and caregivers to reduce “POKES” (reducing needle draws in preemies) has significantly improved care and outcomes, while saving millions of dollars. He shares his published POKE research with clinicians across the country. Here, Dr. Ridout reminisces with his own daughter, Marissa, about the babies that are “the reason for the passion, and for the work, and for the sacrifice it takes to do something really impactful.”

Auni, Caitlin and Dallin Naulu's first baby, was diagnosed with a terminal illness—spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Over the next 14 months before Auni passed away, Primary Children’s Hospital clinicians and caregivers, the Naulu’s, and extended family and friends helped Auni live the best life she could. She brought joy and sunshine to all. Since Auni’s passing, Caitlin, a special education teacher, and Dallin have become strong advocates for families and children with SMA. “Every day they're here with you is a day to just be enjoyed and celebrated.”

Over several decades serving as family medicine doctors, Drs. Steven Van Norman and Craig Booth have seen St. George, Utah, grow from a sleepy town with a small hospital to one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the nation with world-class health services. “I do miss the small hospital,” says Dr. Booth, “We’d go in on Tuesdays to do surgery, and there would be a beautiful lemon-cream pie waiting for us.

Hiking in the Utah mountains, Casey Hunter slipped and fell down a steep snowy incline and boulder patch. With his leg hanging and patched together with a make-shift tourniquet, he crawled up the mountain, found the cell phone he had dropped in the fall, and called his wife, Amy. A Life Flight hoist team rescued him from the slope. In spite of multiple surgeries and an amputation, Casey says his life is better as a result of the experience. “I've been through a lot, a lot, and I don't feel there's anything I can't overcome. I feel like it's made me a better person. I wouldn't change what happened to me for anything.”

Four years and seven brain surgeries after a traumatic ATV accident, Britton Shipp is walking, driving, working, and inspiring others. Sommer remembers the key milestone for her, “I just couldn't wait to hear the words, ‘I love you mom,’ again.”

Alberto Vasquez—10 of 15 children—spent much of his youth working in the farm fields of Idaho and Oregon. His dream and plan for a better future was a college education. Today, with a master’s degree and decades of healthcare leadership experience, Alberto serves not only as a hospital administrator, but as a martial-arts teacher and mentor to pay it forward and inspire kids in his community.

Adam Ellington knew as a child that he wanted to serve as a medic in the military, and he joined the Army at age 17. Today, Adam is a major with the U.S. Army Reserves 807th Medical Command Deployment Support, and also works full-time as a hospital quality and safety manager. Here, Adam talks with colleague Joel Thomas about his passion for his work as a medic and his service as a pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan.

While driving home from her job at Riverton Hospital just after midnight in March 2018, Stephanie Dickey saw a car burning on the side of the road. She stopped and helped pull the driver out of the car, amid the flames. Here, she talks with her sister, Kiirsten Meng, about that night. "I don't consider myself a hero. I just did what you should do."

Stein Rosqvist, a Life Flight nurse medic, was the lone survivor of a Life Flight crash on January 10, 2003. At that time, Michele worked at LDS Hospital in the emergency room, and was on duty when Stein was brought into the ER. Stein began walking again 7 months after the accident. Today, Michele is a critical care nurse at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah.

Sean Talley reflects with fellow caregiver Brandy Lee on the intensity and rewards of serving as Shock-Trauma ICU manager at Intermountain medical Center in Murray, Utah. "Because I grew up in a rough part of Las Vegas, I can spot dangerous situations, and...I'm one of those guys that is only really happy when I feel like I'm helping someone."

Michelle Evans and Shannon Tripp, mother and daughter, found very different paths to the nursing careers they love. "Through everything, through the very rock bottom, you can still find gratitude and hope." Michelle and Shannon are both caregivers at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Mike Bleak has served as commissioner in Iron County, Utah, since 2016. He previously worked in public safety for more than two decades, most recently as a detective with the Cedar City Police Department. Here, Mike and his wife Amy talk about “the choking game,” a topic Mike is passionate about preventing and speaks about close to home and across the United States, as well as in Europe and South America. Mike is also open and candid about experiencing post-traumatic stress from his career in law enforcement.

Pediatrician Marty Nygaard, MD, and his wife, Louise live near St. George, Utah. Dr. Nygaard’s original songs have been making patients, doctors, and caregivers smile for more than two decades. "One thing that's amazing about you is that you can talk about serious spiritual things, and then end with a silly song."

Marc Harrison, MD, Intermountain's president and CEO, and Katy Welkie, administrator at Primary Children's Hospital, first worked together at Primary Children's Hospital in the 1990s, when Dr. Harrison was completing an pediatric intensive care fellowship and Katy worked as a nursing director. The two shared - and continue to share - a passion for people, healing, and improving healthcare. "If the world is going to be cruel at times, I want to be part of something that tries to be the counterbalance to that."

I think at some point in time, caregivers have to come to the reality that this is an awful disease, and at this point in time, you can't cure it. You can't get back who they were, and so you have to change your paradigm to you are a professional caregiver of somebody that needs the care, in my case, rather than I'm the daughter-in-law of this wonderful man that used to be a boss of so many things, and now I'm having to be the boss of him, which was so uncomfortable.

Dr. Lincoln Nadauld sees the future of cancer care and it's at the DNA level. Fighting cancer has always been personal, but now with personalized genetic care Dr. Nadauld and his patients are having better outcomes and inspired lives. 

Adoption brings incredible happiness to families wanting to start a family. When one two siblings are reunited through different families a lifetime of love and friendship begins. 

Josh spent two tours in Iraq, but post traumatic stress took its toll on him and his family. Hear how Josh and Melissa came together to support each other through very difficult times. 

"I vaguely remember feeling a jolt and everything went black," Cade Brenchley met a new friend in the most unlikely circumstances. 

How much power does a song have? For Jim Greer and his daughter Cindy Henry it's the lifetime of love and memories. Now Cindy shares the gift her father shared with her patients. See how the power of song brought a family together and now brings patients closer to her.