93.3 KWTO Keeping Watch Over the Ozarks
When people drive past CoxHealth starting Wednesday, they’ll see a shiny group of flowers.
Metal flowers.
CoxHealth will planting a field of metal tulips to honor the patients who have been released from the hospital after treatments for COVID-19. They will “plant” one new tulip for every five patients to be released from care.
“While they are doing a phenomenal job, the last few months have been very stressful and sad for our staff,” Karen Kramer, chief hospital officer and COVID-19 incident commander at CoxHealth, said in a statement. “This idea evolved as a way to encourage them for the great work they are doing, and to help remind of the many patients who are treated and released because of the virus.”
The initial garden will have 300 tulips for the 1,500 patients who have come through CoxSouth’s doors. The garden will be updated weekly with the new plants.
The funds for the garden are being provided by the Arvest Bank Foundation.
“We are very appreciative of the Arvest Bank Foundation and the assistance they have given during this difficult time,” Lisa Alexander, president of the CoxHealth Foundation, said in a statement. “They are a wonderful community partner, and their dedication to our region, and work to support both our patients and staff, are efforts we will always remember.”