Community Corner

Decorative Daffodils Honor Recovered Coronavirus Patients

There are 162 daffodils outside of Edward Hospital, one for each patient who has beaten coronavirus to date.

There are 162 daffodils outside of Edward Hospital, one for each patient who has beaten coronavirus to date.
There are 162 daffodils outside of Edward Hospital, one for each patient who has beaten coronavirus to date. (Edward-Elmhurst Health)

NAPERVILLE, IL — The usually clinical exterior of Edward Hospital in Naperville has come alive with colorful expressions of life in the face of the new coronavirus crisis. The hospital recently put out 162 decorative yellow daffodils: one for each patient who has recovered from the virus.

Edward Hospital spokesperson Keith Hartenberger told Patch daffodils were chosen because they are often linked with rebirth and new beginnings, as one of the first flowers to bloom after a frost. The hospital is also placing a banner of encouragement outside to celebrate these recovered patients.

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Hartenberger told Patch each patient who recovers gets their own daffodil and a note of encouragement when they are discharged from the hospital.

Mary Lou Mastro, President and System CEO of Edward-Elmhurst Health said in a statement that “Marking each COVID-19 discharge with a daffodil puts hope on display."

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She added, "Watch as the fields of daffodils — and the number of patients who are healing and recovering — grow over the coming weeks."

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