"The Ronan Report" provides insight about the activities at the Western Maryland Health System in Cumberland, Maryland, and about the changes taking place in healthcare today from a CEO's perspective.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Loss in WMHS Family

The Western Maryland Health System recently lost one of its own.  Samantha "Sam" Purbaugh was a dedicated charge nurse on 5 West who died suddenly while on the job caring for patients and supervising staff.  Sam was only 39 years old, but had two recent bouts with cancer.  She was in remission after her most recent cancer.  During her chemotherapy treatments, Sam would come to work and you wouldn't know that she undergoing cancer treatment except for her designer head covers.  She was always smiling and going about her work touching lives each day, including those with whom she worked.  We truly lost a very special nurse and member of the WMHS family.
Sam Purbaugh


3 comments:

  1. Sam was definitely a wonderful person. She made everyone feel special. She never complained and always had a positive attitude. Sam's attributes are what nursing is all about. She was a fantastic student and an even better nurse. Such a loss to not only WMHS, but to everyone that she came in contact with.
    Rick Cooper

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  2. Sam was an example that everyone should try to aspire to be like. Sam was a friend to the world. Everyone was her concern. She touched your heart with every smile. The best of the best. Daughter,Friend,Nurse,Mother,Family and Wife was her life. She enjoyed the simple things in life. Loving people and being with her son and husband was her Heaven on Earth. No one will ever be as special as our Samantha. We can only hope to try and be sure we will see her again in Heaven some day. Bye for now Sam, we all miss you everyday. Becky Kimble

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  3. Sam was the kind of person that cared and supported so many, but made little known to others her own worries and concerns and battles. She loved her life, it was evident, and she always wore a smile in every situation. She shared a loss with me, as I lost a son like she did. She reached out to me in my pain, reliving hers to be my support. That is something I will never forget. I'm certain leaving her earthly friends and family was a hard thing for her to do, but she has her little one, Noah, and other friends and family where she is to keep her company until the earthly ones join her again. Love you, Sam. Missing you terribly

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