Sharing unique stories from our community

We are proud to highlight the team members, patients and stories that make the communities we serve so special. This series is designed to keep community members informed and up-to-date on all things ECU Health. From how we prepare to keep you safe to special connections between team members and patients, ECU Health News is here to tell inspiring and informative stories. See a selection from the series below.

International Nurses Program brings unique perspective to health system

Launched in November 2019, the International Nurses Program has brought 175 nurses from 21 countries to ECU Health. Denique Barnett is a pediatric rehab nurse at ECU Health Maynard Children’s Hospital and international nurse at ECU Health.

“My passion is pediatrics, but specifically neonatal nursing,” Barnett said. “Back home there is no degree program for neonatology. So I decided that, you know, to further my studies and to self-actualize, I would need to come to the United States.”

Local man shares inspiring story after life-changing injury

It’s been sixteen years since Brent Carpenter’s life-changing injury – paralyzed by the accident, the eastern North Carolina resident never gave up.

“I think my goal each year is to make the world more accessible, to not only my friends, but just people in my community that’s going through the struggle like me.”

Find out how this eastern North Carolina resident swam a mile across a lake in this ECU Health News story.

Pediatric ICU’s Wave Wall honors patients

Renovations to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Maynard Children’s Hospital, known as the PICU, provides a special way to honor some of the bravest patients.

“I’ve had families who their child has spent a significant amount of time in the PICU and asked, ‘How can we leave my child’s legacy on the unit?’” said Child Life Specialist Chelse Cudmore. “And I saw a picture of a wave and I was like, you know, a wave really represents patient and families stays while in the ICU as well as represents grief.”

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