Vienna Family Gives Back To Hospital That Saved Daughter's Life

VIENNA, VA—The Bunker family thought it was just a routine illness when their daughter Grace got sick for over a week. Little did they know, it was a lot worse.

They returned to the doctor when Grace had trouble breathing, and they soon learned her lung had collapsed. The then-five-year-old girl had to be airlifted to Children's National Health System, but her parents found out both couldn't stay with her in the helicopter.

That's when a first responder came up to them and said, “We’ve got her and she’s in good hands. I will text you as soon as we pass her off to the doctors.”

It was moments like this that left a lasting impression of the care they received at the hospital. It was moments like this that motivated the Vienna family to keep giving back to the hospital that saved their daughter's life. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

“That obviously wasn’t part of [the] normal job description,” said Grace's father Brigg Bunker. “I expect the child to receive world class care. But the service to a family who was obviously also struggling – that was also world-class.”

At the hospital, Grace went into a medically-induced coma and stayed that way for 16 days. Things did not look good the first night, but luckily her mother Melanie Bunker befriended a woman that stayed and talked with her all night. She soon learned it was a nurse at Children's National. "The next few days, she was wheeling and dealing her shifts," Melanie Bunker told Patch. "Her being here put me at ease. It was a huge relief when I learned she was a nurse."

Grace left the intensive care unit after coming out of the coma and stayed in the hospital for about another week. "After that, she made a pretty miraculous recovery," Brigg Bunker told Patch.

Four years later, Grace is a happy, healthy nine-year old, and the Vienna family has grown to six. And the Bunkers haven't forgotten what the hospital has done for them. Melanie and Brigg Bunker will co-chair the annual Race for Every Child, which raises money for Children's National. The race will be held Saturday, Oct. 21 at Freedom Plaza in DC.

Participants can raise money as individuals or teams, and kids that have been treated at Children's National often form teams, according to Brigg Bunker. The Bunkers, their family and friends have their own team, which hopes to raise $15,000 for the race.

Grace has her own goal of being the winner for her age group. Seeing how far she's come in her recovery, she just might.

Image courtesy of Lauren Stewart Photography. Pictured on the bottom right is Grace Bunker.