The "LOVE" sculpture is sitting prominently on the grounds of Renown Health as a way to heal and thank our healthcare workers. The Renown Foundation collaborated with Artown Executive Director, Beth Macmillan, to place the huge metal sculpture at Renown. The work was created by Artist/Designer, Laura Kimpton and Builder/Artist, Jeff Schomberg. LOVE first appeared at Burning Man and was set to be placed at the World Trade Center, but the plan was put on hold over permitting issues. The sculpture will be at Renown for about three months. Hundreds of residents participated in a car parade to see LOVE and make lots of noise for healthcare workers.

Jay kept getting heavier despite all attempts to lose weight. He finally received help through a sleeve gastrectomy - surgery that reduces the stomach to 15% of its original size. "It was pretty hard for me. Nobody wants to admit their flaws. Nobody wants to talk about them needing help," says Renown Health Clinical Nursing Supervisor, Jay. "I didn't like the person I was or the person I was becoming. I was heading down a path of being really unhealthy, weighing the heaviest I've ever weighed, and not having success in trying to lose the weight on my own." Jay's insurance covered the gastric sleeve surgery at Renown Health, which involved getting counseling from a staff registered dietitian. At his heaviest, Jay weighed 380 pounds. Nearly a year since the bariatric surgery, Jay has lost 151 pounds. "I thought it was going to be one of those things that when it came to eating that, if I didn't eat enough that I was going to have a really hard time, says Jay. I still get to eat some of the foods I really like, but there is some stuff that I stay away from. Food is what I need to survive. It's not what I need to feel good about myself." Jay says he did the gastric sleeve surgery for his three boys. "I need to be around for them," says Jay. Discover more great content from Renown Health. http://renown.org www.youtube.com/channel/UCaHcBHMtfsmoIgz9IMGPEsw https://bestmedicinenews.org/

Renown Health Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) doctors and nurses nurtured twins, Hayden and Hudson Nahouraii, through challenging first months of life. Chelsey Hazuka Nahouraii's pregnancy was going fine until 26 weeks. She and husband, Grant Nahouraii, ended up rushing to Renown Regional Medical Center for an emergency caesarean or C-section. Hudson was born at 2 pounds, 4 ounces and Hayden at 1 pound, 13 ounces. They spent the next four months in the Renown NICU where they both had emergency hernia surgeries and other issues, including difficulties feeding. The Nahouraiis credit the amazing care their preemies received in the NICU for their survival. The family is so grateful that they started a drive to collect clothing and other items needed in the NICU. The babies are now thriving at home.

As COVID-19 greatly enhanced the demand for hand sanitizer all over the world, Renown Health faced an impending shortage until local distilleries came to the rescue. "Our supplies couldn't keep up with our demand," says Renown Health Director of Operations, Ian Wayman. "The FDA put out guidance for hospitals, like Renown, to permit us to source alcohol-based hand sanitizer locally and we put an appeal out to the community." Seven Troughs Distilling Company Owner, Tom Adams, partnered with Damon Industries Vice President of Sales, Brandon Halvorson, to produce huge quantities of FDA approved hand sanitizer. Two other local distilleries, The Depot Craft Brewery Distillery and Forsaken River Spirits Company also joined in the production of ethanol, the main ingredient in hand sanitizer, at their distilleries. "We started receiving it the third week of March and that was great. That coincided with when our normal supplier was really struggling to meet our demand. We were running out, so they were able to come to the rescue," says Wayman.