NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota and lineman Karl Klug and Ropati Pitoitua, in addition to Gayle Webster, wife of Titans executive vice president and general manager, Ruston Webster all visited Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital visiting patients on the orthopaedics floor and new parents that have just welcomed a baby to their family.
"It's a good opportunity for us to come out in the community and get away from football," Mariota said. "It's the least we can do to reach out and bring joy and happiness to others during the season."
The Titans' filled the hallways with sounds of Christmas carols and jingle bells while a couple of Santa Clauses played Christmas songs as they walked from room to room putting smiles on the patients' faces.
"Today was great and seeing the babies was awesome," said Klug. "I have two children and know parents won't get much sleep, they are changing diapers non-stop, and that's it is kind of overwhelming."
"The Tennessee Titans warmed the hearts of those welcoming a new addition to their family this Christmas," said Saint Thomas Director of Nursing for Maternal Infant Services, Donna Darnell. "Saint Thomas patients and their families were delighted to celebrate and give thanks for the blessings they have received this holiday season."
The morning was a time to spread hope and joy and reminded everyone that the true meaning of Christmas is love, giving, family and friends.
Merry Christmas to All and Nothing shall be Impossible!
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Titans players join Santa Claus in celebrating the holiday season at Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital (Photos: Gary Glenn, Lynne McCracken)
ABOUT SAINT THOMAS HEALTH**
Saint Thomas Health is Middle Tennessee's faith-based, not-for-profit health care system united as one healing community. Saint Thomas Health is focused on transforming the health care experience and helping people live healthier lives, with special attention to the poor and vulnerable. The regional health system includes nine hospitals: Saint Thomas Hospital for Spinal Surgery, Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital and Saint Thomas West Hospital in Nashville, Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro, Saint Thomas Hickman Hospital in Centerville, Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital in Smithville, Saint Thomas Highlands Hospital in Sparta, Saint Thomas River Park Hospital in McMinnville and Saint Thomas Stones River Hospital in Woodbury. A comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and rehabilitation facilities complement the hospital services and cover a 68-county area. Saint Thomas Health is a member of Ascension, a Catholic organization that is the largest not-for-profit health system in the United States. For more information, visit www.STHealth.com.
ABOUT ASCENSION
Ascension (www.ascension.org) is a faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care. As the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the world's largest Catholic health system, Ascension is committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all persons with special attention to those who are struggling the most. In FY2015, Ascension provided $2 billion in care of persons living in poverty and other community benefit programs. More than 150,000 associates and 35,000 affiliated providers serve in 1,900 sites of care – including 131 hospitals and more than 30 senior care facilities – in 24 states and the District of Columbia. In addition to healthcare delivery, Ascension subsidiaries provide a variety of services and solutions including physician practice management, venture capital investing, treasury management, biomedical engineering, clinical care management, information services, risk management, and contracting through Ascension's own group purchasing organization.
