Huntsville Hospital Nurses Assist Terminally Ill Patient With Baptism

In July 2026, nursing staff at Huntsville Hospital in Alabama helped 74-year-old Jeannie Guffey fulfill her final wish to be baptized. Guffey, who had been battling lung cancer for a year, expressed her desire for the sacrament shortly before transitioning to hospice care. Recognizing the logistical challenges of performing a baptism in an intensive care unit, nurses Erin Powers, Kaitlin Swaim, and Emily Owens coordinated to create a makeshift baptismal pool using a purchased kiddie pool filled with warm water.

With the assistance of medical staff using a patient lift, Guffey was placed into the water, where her son, Jody, performed the baptism in the presence of her husband and other family members. Guffey passed away one week later. Reflecting on the experience, the nurses described the act as an extension of their commitment to caring for the spiritual and emotional needs of their patients. Guffey’s daughter-in-law, Carol, shared that the event provided the family with a profound sense of peace during a difficult time.