Loving My Family- Dr. R.C. Hooper and Layne Blanchard

I recently went to my mother's ancestral home in Jonesboro, AR to see her when she briefly went into St. Bernards Medical Center.  I worked there in the early 90s myself as I finished college.  @StBernardsHlth

My mother's father was Dr. Rector Clay Hooper, Jonesboro's first urologist and one of its first surgeons I believe.  I think he was also the first Chief of Staff of St. Bernard's.  He had previously served as the chief medical officer of the entire Panama Canal Zone right at the outbreak of WWII.  Both my mother and uncle, Dr. Anthony Hooper (1945-1992), for whom I was named, were born in the Zone which was United States territory at the time.

I found grandpa's picture still hanging in one of the corridors outside the Administrative offices of St. Bernards, although it used to be directly outside the front of Administration- apparently they were all moved a bit down the hall at some point.  I am glad to see that the tradition is still honored.

I was also pleased to find the picture of my cousin Layne Blanchard (1981-2008), who appears on the St. Bernard's Wall of Heroes because he gave multiple organs to people who needed them.  I believe that 7 different people benefited from Layne's selfless action- one that mirrors the way he lived his life.  I miss him to this day.