Ed and Sharie Ramos honor daughter’s Tacoma General NICU care
Sharie Ramos’ MultiCare story began when she was a young girl, dreaming of one day working for her local nonprofit health care system. Her journey with MultiCare began 19 years ago when she joined the organization as a patient access technician. Since then, Ramos has transitioned into her current role as a direct notification team representative at MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital.
Sharie’s husband, Ed, also has a deep connection to MultiCare, one that dates back even earlier than his wife’s — he was born at Tacoma General Hospital. Ed now serves on the MultiCare Health Foundation board and co-chairs its Allocation Committee, bringing his experience as a certified public accountant to the position.
But it’s Ed and Sharie’s daughter, Tamia, who’s at the heart of the couple’s true passion for MultiCare.
Tamia’s journey
In September 2003, Tamia was born at 25 weeks in Tacoma General Hospital, weighing only 1 pound 13 ounces. Having survived an emergency cesarean section, she came up not breathing and was rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where she would spend the next 79 days.
“It was quite amazing all the equipment they had to take care of her,” Sharie remembers. “Everything they had to keep her moving, keep her breathing, give her good nutrition. Giving her caffeine to remind her to breathe. They said that when she grew up, she would probably run and try to grab our coffee all the time.”
The NICU care providers and nursing staff also helped the Ramos family along their journey.
“I keep going back to my amazement of the doctors and the nurses and the access to health care,” Ed shares. “Tamia’s care team said that kids have better outcomes when the parents are there, so we were always there even though we lived in Renton at the time.”
Inspired to give back
Now 18 years later, Tamia is an active teenager with an infectious smile and laugh.
“She’s a healthy, normal young lady,” Ed says. “We’re blessed everything turned out great considering how early she was born.”
When designing their will, the Ramos family thought back on all these experiences, including Tamia’s first few months of life.
“Sharie and I have worked hard and always wanted to give back to the community where we grew up,” Ed explains. “Without hesitation, we both decided to give to Tacoma General Hospital NICU. Due to our experience witnessing the excellent staff who cared for Tamia, we agreed this would be a worthy cause.”
“We both feel our gift will support families, touch hearts and make it easier for people whose babies are in the NICU,” Sharie adds.
You can follow the Ramos family’s example by making a gift online to support the Level IV NICU at Tacoma General Hospital. Your donation helps fragile babies like Tamia have the best possible start, setting them up for success as they develop and grow.
