LOUISVILLE, Ky. — While the streets of downtown Louisville are quiet and empty for Thanksgiving, there are plenty of full hearts inside the University of Louisville's Hospital where a holiday meal is honoring the memory of a mother who died too soon to cancer.
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, 20-year-old Marrissa Bouley got a life-saving bone marrow transplant.
"I'm very, very thankful I got to do it before the end of the year," the Paducah, Kentucky native said. She's one of many patients spending the holidays in the hospital's transplant wing.
"My dad always cooks a massive Thanksgiving every year. So I'm really bummed out I won't get that this year," she said, "but the hospital's providing a really good Thanksgiving for us."
The catered meal from Buca di Beppo comes courtesy of Spike it to Cancer, an annual volleyball tournament that raises money for the Mary Jane Gift Quality of Life Fund.
Mary died in 2010 after fighting breast cancer. Now her sons do this in her honor.
"She would've loved to have met her grandkids or her daughters-in-law, but that wasn't in the cards," Tommy Gift said. "She'd be really proud of us and we know she's upstairs having a huge Thanksgiving dinner with all of her friends."
Coming together, that's part of healing, Nurse Kim Rhodes said.
"The family is what keeps the patient going," Rhodes, who has been a nurse for 44 years, explained. "I've always advised to the families, you've got to take a little bit of time to take care of yourself."
Bouley did just that with her family enjoying the same feast as her caretakers—holiday staples like turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie.
"Having it catered is amazing," Robert Bouley, Marrissa's dad said, laughing with his mouth half-full.
Sitting at his daughter's bedside, Robert was thankful for the food, but even more thankful for the time.
"The moment. At least, for Thanksgiving, to be able to sit here and share it together," he said.
A moment made possible thanks to Marrissa's nurses and her donor. Clutching a bag signed by the medical staff, she said "this is the bag that saved my life. And I'm gonna keep it forever."
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