The Emergency Department staff at Chester County Hospital has a very special angel looking over them these days thanks to Rick and Audrey Lathrop, parents of registered nurse Jessica Lathrop who is a 10-year veteran of the hospital.
Rick carved the angel shortly after retiring to North Carolina three years ago, using a computer-controlled machine which cuts a design on the computer out of wood. “Once the piece was carved, he hand-sanded and stained it and added little personal touches.”
The design for the angel, who is wearing a surgical mask, cap, lab coat and stethoscope, was purchased by Lathrop from a Russian artist who was inspired by the hardship of medical professionals during the pandemic.
“My parents wanted to show their support for me and the rest of the medical professionals here,” Lathrop said. “He also made one for his family doctor and then sold seven more to people who learned about the angels from a news segment done by a local channel in North Carolina.”
The carved wooden angel found a home in Chester County Hospital’s Emergency Department near a wall filled with cards and drawings from people thanking the health care heroes for their work during the pandemic.
“It’s nice to do what we always do every day and know that our families and our community appreciate it. And for me it means a lot to see something from my parents here at work every day since they live so far away,” Lathrop said. “A lot of the staff at the hospital have thanked me and asked about it too… it’s been a little bit of fame for my dad.”