Dr. Divatia: 'I Would Choose You Again and Again to Take Care of My Family'

Hosted by ChristianaCare’s Center for WorkLife Wellbeing and Patient Experience, the Thank You Project program reconnects patients with caregivers to express their gratitude. For more than a decade, Mrugesh Patel had heard his wife, Himani Divatia, D.O., FACP, FAAP, a hospitalist at ChristianaCare, talk about “her people.” He was by her side throughout her Medicine-Pediatrics (Med-Peds) residency at ChristianaCare, then when she became the residency associate program director and now a leader in Academic Affairs. For Divatia, the Med-Peds team she joined in 2011 embodies ChristianaCare’s broader culture. "We work together harmoniously," she said. "We have our own individual strengths, but it’s our collaboration, communication and compassion that powers what we do." Then, one summer day in 2023, Patel and Divatia experienced it all from a completely different vantage point – that of patient and family member.

The pool party was an annual expression of gratitude to Med-Peds residents and their mentors. Divatia, Patel and their two young children joined other families at the home of two Med-Peds hospitalists, expecting a day of celebration and connection. Patel was in the deep end of the swimming pool when he experienced a neurological emergency and lost consciousness. Within minutes of discovering this critical incident, friends turned into first responders, pulling Patel from the pool, administering life-saving aid and ensuring he got to ChristianaCare as quickly as possible. For five days, a broad team of caregivers — including physicians, nurses and specialists in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit — cared for him as they would for any patient, but with the added weight of knowing he was the cherished husband of their mentor and friend.

Patel's first memory in the hospital was waking up to the murmur of doctors discussing cases outside his room. He soon realized he was overhearing residents making their morning rounds — something he had heard his wife talk about for years but had never witnessed firsthand. Over the next few days, he had similar moments of recognition. "I saw all these things Himani had talked about the past 13 or 14 years in real life," he said. "And the biggest thing I learned is that it takes more than medical knowledge to save a life — it’s the love, care and empathy shown during recovery, to both me and my family. You did everything you could to give me a chance at recovery, and once I started to recover, the confidence and support I received from you made all the difference."

In March, Patel, Divatia and about 20 caregivers who supported Patel gathered again at ChristianaCare's Newark campus. They shared still-raw memories, the bonds that carried them through and reflections on the serendipity of the incident's timing. “We were in the right place,” Divatia said. “I didn’t have to make big decisions alone — we trusted in the excellence and love around us. I would choose you again and again to take care of my family.”

Tabassum Salam, M.D., MBA, FACP, chief learning officer at ChristianaCare, recalled walking into the Surgical ICU waiting room and sensing positivity among the Med-Peds team, giving her a feeling of certainty that Patel would be OK. “Himani, you’ve given so much to all of us – especially your students," Salam said. "It had to come back to you and your family. “When I need to remind myself of why we do what we do in health care and education, I think about the amazing positivity in that room.”

When a patient's family and friends include opinionated medical professionals, caregivers often need to muster even more grace and understanding than usual, Divatia acknowledged. She thanked her husband's physicians and nurses for their poise, especially when they needed to make pivotal treatment decisions shortly after he was admitted. She recounted how Raymond Green, D.O., FACS, acute care trauma surgeon, took the time to check in with them after a very long shift responding to multiple major trauma incidents besides Patel's. "With every decision we make as medical professionals, we understand there are tradeoffs, risks and unknowns, and we rely on our practical experience to weigh those things," said Divatia, who now serves as the associate designated institutional official, Academic Affairs at ChristianaCare. "Dr. Green stayed steadfast and believed in his team, and he went above and beyond to make sure we understood their decision-making." They also thanked Leonard Mason III, M.D., FACS, trauma and critical care surgeon, and Kimberly Gannon, M.D., Ph.D., medical director, Inpatient Neurology and Comprehensive Stroke Program, for leading Patel's care.

In the nearly two years since the pool party, Allen Friedland, M.D., MACP, FAAP, an internal medicine physician and director of the Med-Peds residency program, said he has also wondered often about the mysterious destiny of that day. "But if it had been a different party or a different person, you all would've done exactly the same thing – you would have worked together to help save someone's life," Friedland said. "That's really the lesson I learned – that you all have the ability to translate your training, collaboration and experience into any situation. "You're a blessed group, and though you may never all work together again, you'll forever be connected."

Divatia and Patel also would like to thank individuals who were unable to join the in-person celebration but have supported the couple throughout their journey, including Vali Kondos, D.O.; Michael Maguire, M.D., MPH; Ryan Holton, M.D.; Siri Holton, M.D.; Gina Riccardi, M.D.; Alan Klinkachorn M.D.; Anuja Mohla, D.O.; Raman Sharma, M.D., Vishal Patel, M.D.; and Vrunda Patel, M.D., in addition to countless colleagues who provided positive energy and support during this challenging time.