In a major medical center like UNM Hospitals, it is important for the hospital community to have a quiet place set aside for meditation, reflection or prayer. The UNM Hospital Pavilion has such a place for patients, family members, guests and even hospital staff. The meditation room, located on the first floor of the pavilion, is a serene setting, the west wall made of a stained glass mural and a fountain in the center of the room brings a sense of peace to those who visit.
To enhance the meditation room further, UNMH is currently working on the Tree of Life glass door panel project. The glass door panel inserts for the meditation room’s double doors will be created by glass artist Denise Taylor of Taylor Made Glass, the same artist who created the glass mural.
The project is being led by the Jerry and Ed White family. Jerry is a longtime employee of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Through the Tree of Life Project, Jerry and her family hope to bring comfort to other families with loved ones being cared for at UNMH.
In July 2006, the White family was one of those families. Jerry’s daughter, Shannon White-Fredrickson, was brought to UNM Hospitals during her 24th week of pregnancy. Shannon’s complications resulted in the premature birth of her daughter, a 17-ounce micro-preemie they named Mackenzie.
Mackenzie spent her whole life in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at the UNM Children’s Hospital. She was one month old when she passed away.
Shannon and her husband Frank Fredrickson appreciated the attentive care they received from their doctors. Jerry said she was struck by the kind and wonderful staff of nurses and health professionals who took special care of Mackenzie.
The family was also grateful to Chaplain Dave Hartenberger for his strong faith and comfort. He baptized Mackenzie in the hospital and was with the family when she passed away. Chaplain Hartenberger also officiated at a memorial service for Mackenzie.
After their experience at UNM Hospitals, the family wanted to be a part of something that honored Mackenzie in a reverent way, and that spiritually supported other families in need of care at the hospital.
The tree of life has long been a symbol of a welcoming community. The stained glass tree of life on the double doors will have 500 engraved leaves, casting a shade of compassion and peace on all who visit.
UNM Hospitals is asking for donations of $200 for a single leaf on the tree, inscribed with the donors name or the name of a person the donor would like to honor. If a donor would prefer a leaf with two names, UNMH requests a $250 donation (maximum of 30 characters per leaf).
All the donations will be used toward the enhancement of the mediation room in the UNM Hospital Pavilion. The tree of life project is a limited-edition, 500-unit offering.
For more information on the Tree of Life Project or to make a donation, call the UNM Hospitals Development Office or Hannah Farrington at (505) 277-5685.
Contact: Lauren Cruse, (505) 272-3690; email: lcruse@salud.unm.edu