Nurse Retires After 58 Years, Leaving a Legacy of Healing and Hope

Wynola Wayne has retired after 58 years as a nurse at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Her career began with a life-changing moment in 1965, when she cared for a severely burned toddler. That child, Marco Houpe, later credited her with saving his life. In December 1965, 15-month-old Marco Houpe suffered third-degree burns over 85% of his body in a Christmas tree fire. Wayne, then a nurse in training, treated him in the hospital’s burn unit. Despite the extent of his injuries, she believed he would survive.

Houpe’s parents also acknowledged Wayne’s role in his recovery. Decades later, Houpe still refers to her as his guardian angel. Wayne even named her own son after him, a testament to their enduring bond.

At her retirement, colleagues honoured Wayne with a five-minute standing ovation. Marco Houpe was there to escort her out of the building. Today, he is married with two children and works as a school administrator and coach. Wayne’s retirement marks the end of a long and impactful nursing career. Her early care for Houpe forged a lifelong connection between them. Both remain deeply grateful for the role they played in each other’s lives.