High School Senior Can’t Attend Graduation Ceremony Due to Surgery, So Caregivers at Intermountain Health Spanish Fork Hospital Bring the Ceremony to the Hospital
No high school senior expects to spend their graduation day in the hospital, but that’s exactly where Spanish Fork High School student Rylee Allsop found herself last week.
After an unexpected surgery, Allsop was recovering in the medical-surgical unit at Intermountain Health Spanish Fork Hospital, thinking about her classmates who were walking the stage that day to receive their diplomas.
That’s when caregivers at the hospital went the extra mile and jumped into action to make sure Allsop didn’t miss her big day by surprising the Spanish Fork High senior by bringing the graduation ceremony to the hospital.
Lacey Miller, nurse manager the of med-surg unit at Intermountain Spanish Fork Hospital, joined hospital president Megan Johnson and executive assistants Wendy Perkins and Paige Mayer, to plan the secret graduation ceremony at the hospital for Allsop.
On May 20, the day after her class formally graduated, Allsop’s family and friends arrived and joined caregivers from throughout the hospital (several of whom are proud graduates of Spanish Fork High) in a classroom that was decorated in Spanish Fork High colors.
Allsop was then wheeled into the room where attendees surprised Allsop and cheered her on.
“Our family will never be able to convey the gratitude we feel for the staff and administration of Intermountain Spanish Fork Hospital,” said Rylee’s mom, Camille Allsop. “We will never forget the kindness and love shown to our sweet Rylee. Not only for this celebration, but also for the exceptional care she received as a patient. Thank you!”
Spanish Fork High School administrators also attended the hospital ceremony, including principal Matt Christensen, who presented Allsop with her diploma to the cheers of friends, family, and hospital caregivers.
Allsop also received a ‘commemorative diploma’ from Intermountain Spanish Fork Hospital for graduating (being discharged) from the hospital.
“Graduating high school is a major milestone,” said Johnson. “We just wanted to do something special for Rylee so that she didn’t miss out on this special moment in her life. I’m so proud of our hospital team who went above and beyond to ensure that Rylee had a good experience. This is the type of personalized care that we strive to deliver every day.”
So, while Allsop may not have gotten to walk with her graduation class at her formal commencement ceremony, she has a great graduation story and is the only one of her graduating class to receive a special bag of hospital swag, as well as her high school diploma.
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