ST. FRANCIS GIVES ANNUAL PATIENT AWARD

Brian Hine believes in miracles.

Hine received the St. Francis Medical Center's 1997 Courageous Patient Award during the hospital's seventh annual dinner.

More than 1,000 people stood as Hine, 28, an ex-Marine, received the award in the Show Me Center Wednesday night. The former St. Francis patient said in an interview afterward that the hospital staff and pastoral care volunteers are the reason he is alive today.

"I was in St. Francis for over a month after I flew out of a vehicle in an accident," said Hine, of Murphysboro, Ill. "My neck was broken. I couldn't breath on my own. I couldn't stand or walk."

The doctors gave him only a 1 percent chance of surviving with or without a respirator. On his head was a brace with 80 pounds of weight. No one knew if he would ever walk again.

"The hospital staff did everything for me," said Hine. "But most of all they gave me a greater relationship with God."

Hine said the St. Francis pastoral care volunteers gave him the hope to continue living and the courage to try to recover.

"I had over 20 pastoral care volunteers visiting me all the time," he said. "My recovery was a miracle. I believe God has come to the staff of St. Francis and has empowered them to help me and every patient at the hospital."

Although the hospital award was in recognition of Hine's spirit and strength to overcome great obstacles, he said the volunteers and employees of St. Francis deserve the award.

"It's not about me," he said. "It's about them and how they motivated me through God."

Hine said those who took care of him need to know they have done a good job.

"They need this award to continue to be motivated; to keep up the good job."

Currently Hine is the owner of his own residential and business cleaning service in Southern Illinois. He gives motivational talks to churches and organizations.

Previous winners of the award have included Danny Niswonger and Opal Perkins.

In addition to the award, the dinner focused on changes made at the hospital with a "Power of Enthusiastic People and Pep Rally" theme.

Among changes announced was reintroduction of the St. Francis Heart Institute heart surgery team. Dr. Bill Logue, a board certified thoracic surgeon, will head the heart surgery team that is to begin in mid-July.

The hospital also announced the opening of a medical office building. The building, which is set to open in a few months, will house the St. Francis 24-hour Convenient Care Services and Women's Health Services.

Hospital CEO and president Jim Sexton said a plan has also been approved for a housewide renovation of all patient rooms and nursing areas.

Although many changes are being made at the hospital, Sexton said employees of St. Francis make a difference.

"It's the people that make St. Francis hospital work -- people who have gone above and beyond in service," he said.