Monroe, Ga. (April 2, 2019) – Geraldine Camp, who retired from Piedmont Walton Hospital earlier this year after 42 years of service, recently received a big surprise from her former coworkers.
Camp’s employment at the hospital, which was then known as Walton County Hospital, began in 1977, working as the unit secretary for the hospital’s emergency department. She worked in this role until Jan. 24.
Long-time coworkers who knew her well were sad to see Camp go after so many years and knew they wanted to do something special to honor this milestone in Camp’s life.
“She’s just such a giving person,” said Donna Merrifield, RN, a nurse with Piedmont Walton’s emergency department. “I’ve worked with her for the 10 years that I’ve been at this hospital, and she’s never once asked for help from anyone else. She’s simply just a giver, and everyone who worked with her knew that.”
Soon after celebrating her retirement from work, however, Camp experienced car trouble. Her car needed more than $1,000 in repairs, and she was unable to drive it until it was fixed.
“Our team in the emergency department immediately knew that we wanted to help her,” said Merrifield, who was recently awarded Walton County’s best nurse by the Walton Tribune.
Merrifield led the cause, accepting donations from other staff members in her department, as well as throughout the hospital. She found many people knew Camp well and were very willing to help out.
From just 3 to 6 p.m. that day, Merrifield managed not only to raise the $1,200 to pay for Camp’s car to be repaired, but she also raise an additional $700 to help wish Camp well in her retirement.
The gesture of kindness did not go unnoticed, as the hospital teamed up with Walton EMS and the Walton County Fire Rescue Department, both of which knew Camp because of her work in the emergency department, to deliver Camp’s car and surprise her with her retirement gift.
“The staff in our hospital just have such a big heart,” Merrifield said. “We all step up for each other, and I’m proud to be a part of this this team.”
Merrifield, who led the coordination of this surprise, was recently recognized as Walton County’s Nurse of the Year.