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PATRONS | Spring 2018 56 PROGRESS NOTES Since January, employees, patients and visitors have been charmed by the delicate sound of a lullaby while walking through the corridors at Torrance Memorial Medical Center and may have wondered if perhaps they were dreaming. e tune being played was coming from the Labor and Delivery's newly installed baby chimes. e chimes, activated by the push of a button, were developed to announce the arrival of each new baby born in Torrance Memorial's Labor and Delivery unit. When the button is pressed, the entire hospital hears a gentle lullaby play over the hospital's paging system. e ceremonial playing of the chimes is designed to help parents and other family members, particularly older siblings, celebrate each new bundle of joy with a bit of fanfare. e Circle of Life "e chimes will encourage staff, patients and visitors to pause and take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the ever-present circle of life," says Leah Romine, RN, clinical director, maternal child health services. "It will also serve to reduce stress for those in various stages of illness in other areas of the hospital, by reminding them that even in the worst of times babies are being born, and this is concrete evidence of that." e button, which cues the chimes to play, is located next to a newly installed "selfie wall" in the unit, which adds to the experience by providing a cheerful backdrop for capturing photographs of one of life's most precious moments. On Monday, January 1, at approximately 4 p.m. Ernie and Maria Gallardo of Los Angeles were the first to sound the new chimes in celebration of the arrival of their new baby boy, Gabriel. Gabriel's grandmother shares his same birth date. Baby chimes ring for arrival of new infants. Mimi Brody, Torrance Memorial's most decorated volunteer will celebrate 50 years in 2019 and shows no sign of slowing down. WRITTEN BY COLLEEN FARRELL Every Time a Bell Rings No Plans for Retirement ERNIE AND MARIA GALLARDO CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR'S DAY ARRIVAL OF BABY GABRIEL AND ARE THE FIRSTFAMILY TO SOUND TORRANCE MEMORIAL'S NEW BABY CHIMES IN THE LABOR AND DELIVERY UNIT. With a record-breaking 28,000 plus hours of volunteer service under her belt, longtime Torrance Memorial Medical Center volunteer Mimi Brody, age 90, says she "never would have believed it," when asked if she could imagine volunteering at the hospital for nearly 50 years. It all began in 1969 when she moved from Inglewood to Torrance, as her two daughters were getting ready to start high school. While working a new job as a full-time administrative assistant in the area, she was asked by a friend to join the Torrance Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. "I had to do something. I am not a stay-at-home person. at has just never been me," says Brody. And from that day forward she has never looked back. Primarily providing volunteer service to the Gift Shop, Pharmacy department and welcoming patients and visitors at the information desk, Brody is known and adored by many staff, physicians and hospital administrators. Brody is also a past president of the volunteer Auxiliary and serves on its Board of Directors. Her biggest passion—or as she calls it her "pet project"—has always been the gift shop where she proudly shares it is a 100% volunteer-operated program that gives back an average of $300,000 in profits to the hospital each year. Her leadership in this area has contributed greatly to donations of more than $6 million to the Torrance Memorial Foundation over the years. Working an average of five to 10 hours per week, Brody attributes her longevity as a volunteer for keeping her active and encouraged. "I see so many people with problems who are usually much younger than I am," she says. "It not only keeps me grounded, but in addition to working with so many great people, it reminds me how lucky I am to be able to do this work." When asked if she sees retirement in her future, Brody says, "As long as I can do the work, I will stay with it until I have to quit". With her 50-year anniversary approaching in 2019, it appears this spry volunteer isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Learn more about this family's story and our new baby chimes by watching this video produced by the Media Services department and posted on Torrance Memorial's Facebook page. nyurl.com/BabyChimes MARY MATSON, DIRECTOR OF SERVICE EXCELLENCE, MIMI BRODY, SALLY EBERHARD, VICE PRESIDENT, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.