Meet Baptist Legend Tracy Fox Nelson
Caregivers never stop being present for people, even when off-duty. This was the case when Tracy Fox Nelson, a physician assistant at Andrews Institute, attended a track meet in Gulf Breeze. While there, Tracy witnessed a student-athlete from the opposing track team suffer a traumatic injury. The wounded student was struck by another runner. The collision caused a severe open dislocation fracture. The athlete’s ankle dislocated and upon impact, broke through the athlete’s shoe.
Tracy quickly acted and called for help. She, along with the athletic trainer from the injured boy’s school, held his leg in place while waiting for emergency medical teams to arrive. The athlete did not have family or loved ones with him to relay care information, so Tracy called Dr. James Hlavacek, an orthopaedic trauma surgeon at Andrews. Together they helped with the athlete’s coordination of care. Tracy provided details to the surgery team so that when he arrived, everything would be prepared. The student was in a great deal of pain, but his biggest concern was that his running shoes were ruined. He did not have a spare pair or the money to replace them. His running aspirations were his way to a better life.
After surgery and recovery, Tracy contacted the student’s coach to learn his shoe size. Then she bought him a new pair of running shoes as a gift. More than a year later, this athlete is running again. Tracy always goes above and beyond for her patients. This is just one example of many in which Tracy displays our Values. She leads with Ownership, Integrity, Compassion, Excellence and Service; that’s why she’s a Baptist Health Care Legend.
