An unforgettable Opening Day: Nurse transforms patient’s room into baseball stadium to fulfill a final wish
When a patient shared they’d miss Opening Day with their child, Erin Henrichs rallied fellow nurses to bring the ballpark to their bedside.
One of the first conversations that Erin Henrichs, MSN, RN, recalls having with a patient in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) at the university campus was about their love for baseball.
The patient had recently been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Each time Henrichs returned for her night shift, it was clear their condition was worsening.
One night, the patient shared a regret: they had hoped to attend their favorite team’s Opening Day with their child, a long-anticipated trip that now seemed impossible. It was a heartbreaking moment. Henrichs knew there wasn’t much time left, but she also knew there was something she could do.
She and her fellow night-shift nurses got to work. While the patient slept, they decorated the room with homemade team signs and transformed the space to look like a mini baseball stadium.
The next morning, when the patient’s child arrived, they were in awe at what Henrichs and her fellow nurses had pulled together on such short notice. But Henrichs didn’t stop there.
She teamed up with the day-shift nurse to order ballpark-style food from a local restaurant, including hot dogs, chocolate shakes, and French fries, just as the patient had said they wanted for what would likely be one of their last meals. They also made sure to bring an extra chair into the room so the patient and their child could sit side by side to enjoy their ballpark meal and watch the game together on a laptop. The night ended on a high note—the patient’s team won.
“Nurses are usually the people that patients see the most often, especially in critical care situations,” Henrichs says. “What’s most important are the little things that help them stay connected to their home and family.”
Henrichs’ simple but powerful gesture created a lasting memory for the patient and their family in the midst of an incredibly difficult time. For her compassion and creativity, she was honored with a DAISY Award.
“This simple celebratory measure was met with tears and joy by the patient and their family,” wrote Henrichs’ nominator. “It will likely be the last game this patient enjoys. Erin ensured that it would be special and memorable for the whole family.”
Henrichs says the moment wouldn’t have been possible without the support of her team. “It’s a testament to the teamwork on our unit,” she notes.
“Every patient in the MICU is different, but I try to find one thing they love and bring that into their care, especially during end-of-life moments,” says Henrichs. “I hope someone would do the same for one of my family members. You treat others the way you’d want your own loved ones to be treated.”
