ORANGE, Calif.—A couple has established a $53-million endowment for Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, the second-largest gift in the history of the hospital’s system, officials said on May 3.
One of the donors, who wish to remain anonymous, was stricken with an “unusual illness” that baffled physicians, said Amy Daugherty, the chief philanthropy officer for the hospital.
The donor ended up in intensive care in 2016 and fell into a coma, Daugherty said.
Dr. Peter Smethurst and “his ICU team never gave up, never gave up providing hope during a very scary time,” Daugherty said.
“And for this couple, in particular, they didn’t realize how difficult this journey would be,” Daugherty said.
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