X-Ray Vision: How Hospital Staff Unearthed a Woman's Priceless Heirloom Rings

In a remarkable case of teamwork, the radiology department at Grundy County Memorial Hospital in Iowa helped a patient, Susan Sinnwell, recover a pair of heirloom rings that went missing during a routine X-ray. The bittersweet moment came when Sinnwell, after carefully removing her grandfather’s rings for the procedure, accidentally tossed them in the trash, leaving her distraught. It’s a classic tale of misfortune, except this time, the hospital staff channeled their inner detectives.

After realizing what had happened, Sinnwell quickly contacted the hospital, prompting imaging manager Craig Buskohl and the waste management team to spring into action. Armed with a mobile X-ray machine, they began the arduous task of sifting through 60 garbage bags, all stacked high and lost to the chaos. After about 45 minutes of searching, they finally struck gold—or, well, silver—when they located the rings, much to Sinnwell’s amazement and relief.

Beyond the initial panic was a beautiful reminder of the compassionate care that extends beyond medical services; the staff demonstrated that their commitment to patients also includes being steadfast allies in their time of need. As Sinnwell expressed her gratitude with tears of happiness, one has to wonder: what lengths would you go to retrieve something precious?