Morristown businessman Noel Montepeque wanted to honor Gemma Hite and her late husband, Tom, for their kindness. In their honor, Montepeque made a $10,000 donation to the Morristown-Hamblen Hospital Foundation Friday afternoon to fund the “Safe Sleep Accreditation” project within Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System’s labor and delivery department. Gemma, who will turn 90-years-old this weekend, was present for the presentation with her son, Steve Walker.
Foundation President R. Michael Fishman said that accepting the gift was one of the “fun” things about his job. “For many of us, we’re blessed to have such a wonderful team here at this hospital,” Fishman said.
“I’m blessed to have the opportunity to serve in this capacity to help the hospital.” He thanked Montepeque for his time and service to the board. “He’s interested and he’s passionate about our community,” Fishman said.
“Things cost money. In this particular case, we’re happy that you chose the foundation to carry out that thought.” Montepeque expressed his appreciation to the foundation.
“They took the time to get to know me better,” Montepeque said. “I’m a one-on-one (person). They took the time to invite me to lunch one day and I told them, ‘It takes one-on-one to get to know each other.
’” A couple of months went by and CAO Gordon Lintz had Montepeque over for lunch again. “I don’t want to take all of the credit,” Montepeque said. “The contribution was made (from) two companies, one was my wife’s, the other is my daughter’s.
She owns her own company and she also works for Morristown Utilities. Even though she owns her own company, she still works. After Tom met Montepeque, he passed away, but Montepeque stayed close to Gemma.
“We got closer and closer,” Montepeque said. “You have no idea how much you and your family mean to us. Thank you for the trust you have created and built with us.
” Gemma told Montepeque that his family means a lot to her, as well. The Safe Sleep Accreditation program Chief Nursing Supervisor Lisa Kelley explained about the “Safe Sleep Accreditation” program for newborns, consisting of a “Safe Sleep” sack to go around babies. “I had a January baby and it was cold, cold, cold when it was born,” Kelley said.
“She was tiny and it was cold in our house. I was scared about how I was going to keep her safe and warm. Mothers worry about things like that.
What I did in her bassinette, I had a thin cloth and tried to tuck it in. Every time she woke up in the middle of the night it would be over her head. “That kind of wearable blanket keeps things like this from happening,” Kelley said.
“You can put it on them, it keeps them safe, it doesn’t get above their head or under their nose, they won’t smother. Safe Sleep is what it’s all about.” The “Safe Sleep Certification” the hospital qualifies for is to be able to supply these wearable blankets and give parents education to keep their kids safe at home.
This also comes with a seal of approval from “Cribs for Kids” saying that MHHS keeps babies safe at night when they sleep..
