My Personal Memory of the Hospital's History
A Learning Experience
Grace-New Haven Community Hospital, 1947-1952
"Brady Demonstration...Ready Now"

It is the late 1940's, early 1950's. Throughout the halls of Grace-New Haven Community Hospital, a message, "Brady demonstration, ready now," is sent by way of the paging system.

"Brady demonstration, ready now." The monotone voice comes through the intercom. It speaks only to a secret world encapsulated and insulated by its own visible boundaries. Procedures are abbreviated. Beds are made hastily. Vital signs are recorded. Some duties are postponed. Students request permission to take leave and, in some cases, head nurses scurry down the hallways tapping students in dismissal, relieving them of their duties, allowing them permission to attend a demonstration.

The students walk hurriedly and with purpose. Paces quicken as they approach a departing elevator. The elevator descends. The indicators tell us we are approaching the basement, "B" floor. We exit and parade to a pre-relegated arena. We enter quickly and with silence.

In some cases, the pulse of the hospital has temporarily ceased with this attendance. In one case, the pulse of a human being has permanently ceased. The enshrouded corpse lies only respectfully covered—the preservation of one's last dignity...a cold, concrete slab its only throne. The pathologist with his academic dignity proceeds with the autopsy he has had to perform...and off through the intercom we hear, "Brady demonstration, final."

As I stand by the side of this table, my attention is one of reverence. It was here that the life and death of a human being became tangible to me. I am one of these observers. Attendance has been recommended to me by my superiors. It is an anatomy class better than most...and like most, for the first time I am in awe.

Then suddenly a feeling comes over me, as I realize we are witnessing the disassemblance of a human body...an assemblance created by a higher being and microscopic matter.

It made me wonder about the Creator of the universe of this body, the universe of this soul, the universe of this mind, the universe of this whole being!

I learned "to WONDER" and "to WONDER WHY."

As a University of Connecticut Nursing School student during clinicals at Grace-New Haven Hospital 1947-1952, class of 1952, I thank you YALE-NEW HAVEN HOSPITAL and MEDICAL SCHOOL.

You have given OLD SOLDIERS of NURSING a life long curiosity, scientific wonder, compassion and soul searching.

Today the use of cell phones and personal pagers has replaced much of the work of central paging systems. The halls no longer echo the names of the heroes, men and women alike, whose immediate services are being called to the task.