Cancer survivor's wife donates wedding ring to patients

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) -- They are precious to most women, so one might wonder why would someone leave them behind: a wedding band and engagement ring were found in a Bridgeport hospital chapel with a note attached.

Her name remains a mystery, but her story has inspired many. She calls herself a "Cancer Survivor's Wife."

Last week she left behind a note in the chapel of St. Vincent's Medical Center. Taped to the note was her diamond wedding ring.

The note reads: "I would like to donate this ring to cancer patients. I had it appraised. My ring is worth $3,300.00."

"I thought it was incredible," said Joanne Carlson, cancer survivor at St. Vincent's. "I thought what a beautiful gesture."

It was a hospital staff member who found it in front of the Virgin Mary statue.

"That day I went to my department and I was crying because I said, oh my god, this is something you can't even describe because it's a precious thing to give away for another patient," said Margalia Alphonse, EKG technician at St. Vincent's. "That's wonderful and I don't know how to describe that, because that was a nice thing to do."

It was a wife's way of thanking the hospital for saving her husband.

"It literally took my breath away," said Bill Hoey, VP of Mission Services at St. Vincent's. "There are no words to describe how you feel, the poignancy, the heartfelt emotions that were conveyed in that simple note are just overwhelming."

We do know the woman decided to leave the note at the hospital because it's written on the back of a medical bandage and the ring is secured by medical tape.

While the ring will give the hospital more than $3,000, it's the gesture alone that seems to be having the greatest impact.

"It''s really something to do to give your wedding ring," said Carlson, "but I can imagine being grateful for the survivor that she gave the rings in appreciation for how he recovered, that's what we look for."