Hospital Workers Brave Winter Storm to Feed Newborn Who Hadn’t Eaten in Days
- Patient care depends on collaboration across all hospital roles, especially during emergencies.
- Weather-related disruptions can create unexpected gaps in care that require rapid, flexible responses.
- Behind-the-scenes healthcare staff play a critical role in supporting patient safety and outcomes.
During a severe winter storm, two hospital maintenance workers found themselves at the center of an emergency that had nothing to do with maintenance and everything to do with patient care. At LewisGale Hospital Montgomery in Blacksburg, Virginia, the pair stepped outside their usual roles to help ensure a newborn in the emergency department received urgently needed nutrition.
Emergency Need During Winter Storm
On January 24, 2026, a newborn being treated in the emergency department required a specific type of baby formula that was not immediately available. According to reports, the infant had not eaten for three days and needed the formula as part of ongoing care. At the same time, winter weather created hazardous driving conditions across the region, making it unsafe for the child’s parents to travel to the hospital on their own.
Hospital administrators began coordinating an urgent response to meet the infant’s needs while ensuring the safety of everyone involved.
Behind-the-Scenes Staff Step In
According to sources, engineering supervisor Tyler Stanger and maintenance apprentice Tyler Underwood volunteered to help when hospital leadership asked if anyone could safely retrieve the formula.
Despite icy roads, snow-covered surfaces, and limited visibility, the pair left the hospital and drove to a nearby Walmart to locate the specific product required. “There was a lot of ice and snow all over the ground,” Stanger said. “We were sliding, but we made it to Walmart.”
Neither Stanger nor Underwood had prior experience shopping for infant formula, but they searched the store until they found the correct item. Underwood said that while attempting to leave, he nearly became stuck in the parking lot due to ice but was able to make it back to the hospital safely.
Coordinated Response for Patient Care
After the maintenance workers returned, the newborn received the needed nutrition. Hospital officials emphasized that their actions were part of a broader, coordinated response to support the patient and family during challenging conditions.
Because the parents were unable to safely reach the hospital due to the storm, hospital staff worked to ensure the family could safely reach LewisGale Hospital Montgomery so the infant could continue receiving care.
Hospital officials later noted that multiple departments were involved to ensure the family and newborn were supported throughout the situation.
Hospital Recognition
In a January 25 Instagram post, LewisGale Hospital Montgomery publicly thanked Stanger and Underwood, referring to them as “healthcare heroes” and recognizing their willingness to step in during an emergency.
“When a newborn arrived in the ER urgently needing a specific formula, these two didn’t hesitate,” the hospital wrote. “They dropped everything, braved the icy roads, and made sure the baby got the nourishment they needed.”
Stanger told sources that being able to directly help a patient was unusual for his role. “We’re more behind the scenes,” he said. “But to be able to be directly involved with helping someone was a great feeling.”
Underwood described the experience as a rare opportunity to help a family during a critical moment.
Why This Matters for Nurses
For nurses, the incident highlights how patient care often depends on collaboration across the entire healthcare team, particularly during emergencies and weather-related disruptions. While nurses and clinicians provide bedside care, patient outcomes frequently rely on the support of staff working behind the scenes who step in when circumstances demand it.
The situation also reflects the importance of clear communication, flexibility, and shared responsibility during unexpected events, especially when access to resources is limited.
As winter storms continue to affect healthcare systems across the country, the response at LewisGale Hospital Montgomery serves as a reminder that compassionate, coordinated teamwork across all roles remains essential to meeting patient needs and supporting families during times of crisis.
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