McKenna Hopkins
McKenna Hopkins is a labor and delivery nurse at Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem, Utah. The 28-year-old was thrilled to deliver her first child, Calvin, in September 2024 at the Women’s Center where she works. She left the hospital with a healthy baby boy and spent the next 12 weeks on maternity leave. The day before she was to return to work, however, the unthinkable happened. Her 28-year-old husband, Eric, was diagnosed with a fourth ventricular hemangioblastoma — a large brain tumor.
“He’d been having headaches for a year. The tumor was under his cerebellum, at the top of his brain stem,” McKenna says. “The doctors were concerned that the tumor was bleeding and that he might need emergency surgery, so he was transferred from Timpanogos Regional Hospital to St. Mark’s Hospital.”
When the neurosurgeon came in, he told the couple that "This tumor will eventually kill you, but the surgery required to take it out might kill you. However, if all goes well this will improve your life." With that harsh truth, McKenna and Eric decided to move forward with the surgery.
It turned out to be a lone, non-cancerous hemangioblastoma, which means Eric’s prognosis is good. He was able to recognize his wife and son after the 6-hour surgery. He spent the next 20 days at St. Mark’s Hospital recovering in their Acute Rehab Center. After re-learning some of his basic life skills, he was discharged on December 23rd and was able to spend Calvin’s first Christmas at home, surrounded by family.
Eric can talk and eat, but he’s still re-learning to walk, which is made more difficult by his double vision. The family is hopeful that he will make a full recovery in about one-and-a-half to two years. Meanwhile, the Hope Fund has proven to be a blessing for McKenna and Eric during this time because McKenna was on unpaid leave and with Eric unable to work, he was only receiving partial pay from his employer.
“I heard about the Hope Fund from our HR department when I was in the ICU after Eric’s surgery,” McKenna says. “I’m so glad they encouraged me to apply. I was on unpaid leave and it was all just overwhelming. The Hope Fund helped us live through that post-surgery time. We needed to pay medical bills, buy diapers and ever-changing sizes of baby clothes, and to make sure Eric got the continued therapy he needed — and still needs — after leaving the hospital.”
The young couple feels blessed to receive this generous gift from McKenna’s colleagues.
“The help we received from the Hope Fund was a huge relief — it took such a weight off our shoulders,” she says.
“I encourage all my colleagues with hardships, who may need help, to apply for it. Take the time to fill out the forms and get all the documentation, because it’s worth it. I know it’s sometimes hard to accept help, but this is without conditions.”
“For colleagues who may have extra to give, you can help someone in their darkest time. You never know when life’s going to throw you a curveball.”
You can help HCA Healthcare family members in need with as little as a $1 donation per paycheck. HCA Healthcare will also match up to $500 to the Hope Fund per benefits eligible colleague each calendar year. Visit the HCA Hope Fund page to learn more, donate, or apply for assistance.