Don and Martha Tuffli with their daughter, Virginia Patterson, and her dog, Maggie.

Feeling at home

A family gift supports a new CT scanner at Baylor Scott & White - Marble Falls.

When Virginia Patterson’s parents offered her the opportunity to direct funds from their family foundation to the charity of her choice, she knew just the organization she wanted to support: Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Marble Falls.

Now both in their 90s, Virginia’s parents, Don and Martha Tuffli, worked hard throughout their careers to provide for their two daughters.

“My parents worked their tails off,” Virginia said. “They both had a strong work ethic and took risks. When my father retired, they said now let’s do something that helps other people.”

Inspired by her own experiences at Baylor Scott & White - Marble Falls, Virginia decided to support the purchase of a second CT scanner for the hospital. This advanced technology quickly produces high-resolution images of the body that play a critical role in diagnostics and treatment planning, especially during emergencies.

“I know from experience that you have to schedule a CT scan far in advance,” Virginia said. “This area is growing so much. I can see how the need for that service is only going to increase.”

Virginia also knows how important a CT scan can be during an emergency. When she visited the Emergency Department feeling like she was having a heart attack, a CT scan quickly revealed some growths in her lungs that fortunately turned out to be benign.

“I was so impressed that day with how well the hospital was run,” she said. “You don’t get that kind of great experience as an outsider unless the internal operations are top notch. That’s why I feel like this is a good place to invest what my parents worked so hard to build.”

Throughout her experiences with Baylor Scott & White, Virginia felt the difference that compassionate care can make for a patient and their family.

“I’ve been to other hospitals where I felt like a number on a conveyor belt,” Virginia said. “But, at Baylor Scott & White, I feel like I’m walking into my own home or visiting friends. When I had surgery on my shoulder, the surgeon stopped everything and said, ‘Do you mind if we pray?’ Everyone in the room prayed with me before I went in for surgery. You just don’t get that kind of personal touch anymore.”

Virginia is proud to provide for others as her father provided for their family. “My parents taught us to go above and beyond in caring for our neighbor, not just our family and friends. I know this hospital makes a difference for a lot of people, and I’m proud to be a small part of that.”