The halls of North Fulton Hospital were buzzing last week as Jack and Lee Hollander celebrated their 54^th wedding anniversary.  They’re not employees, they’re not volunteers, and they’re not visiting family members…89-year-old Jack Hollander and his 81-year-old bride Lee just happened to each be patients in different units of the hospital on Tuesday March 16^th, the day of their wedding anniversary.

“When the staff found out about the anniversary, they jumped on it,” explained Cathy Tilbury, the Hollanders’ daughter who has been visiting from Tallahassee, Florida where she works as a Nurse Practitioner. “The entire dietary team worked to have a special meal prepared of steak, potatoes, fresh vegetables, salad, cheesecake with strawberries, and sparkling cider served from nice goblets.  The chef really outdid himself!”

Staff on the floors arranged for the couple to celebrate their special day away from their hospital rooms.  With the help of some flowers, lace, balloons, and honeymoon pictures provided by Tilbury, an unoccupied nurse’s station was turned into a private dining area fit for a celebration.

During the meal, which lasted several hours, many hospital staff members stopped by to offer their congratulation wishes and sing happy anniversary songs.  The day was special for all who passed by, most importantly the Hollander’s and their daughter Cathy Tilbury. 

“Everyone worked so hard to make this happen—the nurses, case managers, techs, dietitians, kitchen aids, chef—the list could go on.  It could not have been better, and I know my dad would tell you it was just ‘marvelous,’” Tilbury explained.  “I can’t express how great a job everyone here has done for my parents.”

Jack and Lee Hollander have lived in the Alpharetta area for approximately 30 years.  After their anniversary celebration, they each prepared to be released from the hospital to move on to a rehabilitation center.  They will once again reside in the same facility as they prepare to transition back to their home.

North Fulton Hospital (NFH), part of Tenet Georgia, is a 202-bed, acute-care hospital located on Highway 9, Alpharetta Highway, in Roswell.  Opened in 1983, NFH serves North Fulton and surrounding counties through its team of over 1000 employees, 400 staff physicians and 200 volunteers.  NFH is a state-designated Level II trauma center and provides a continuum of services through its centers and programs, including neurosciences, orthopedics, rehabilitation, surgical services, bariatric surgical weight loss, gastroenterology and oncology.  The hospital is fully accredited and also is certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.

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