When Brooklyne Tolar graduates from Booneville High School on May 25, she’ll have some newfound friends from North Mississippi Medical Center cheering her on in spirit. Brooklyne’s parents brought her to the Emergency Department at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo on Saturday, May 6. Pulmonologist Dr. Paul Perry discovered a small pneumothorax and admitted her to the hospital. She was able to go home that Sunday, but when her condition worsened a few days later, she was readmitted to the hospital.

“I had to get a chest tube inserted, so I was forced to stay overnight. This caused me to miss my senior academic awards,” Brooklyne says. “I watched it on a laptop and my nurse, Mrs. Angela (Long), watched and clapped when they called my name. She knew I was upset because I couldn’t attend.”

It seems that Angela did a lot of clapping because Brooklyne racked up on academic awards – Hall of Fame, several scholarships, National Honor Society and many others.

Shortly thereafter, Angela returned to Brooklyne’s room with a handmade congratulatory card and a graduation gift of $100 she and the other staff had collected. “I bawled my eyes out,” Brooklyne says. “This nursing staff has been the absolute sweetest.”

Congratulations to Brooklyne on her multiple awards! We know she has a bright future ahead. To learn more about our services or joining our team, visit nmhs.net/careers.