UK patient delivers flowers and hope for those on a similar journey
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 11, 2025) — Two years ago, Bobby Patton of Owensboro received a second chance at life when a mechanical device took over the work of his failing heart.
Patton just celebrated what he calls his “LVAD-versary.” In June 2023, a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) was implanted in his heart, circulating his blood while he waits for a transplant. In those two years, he hasn’t missed a step. He regularly travels from his home in Owensboro to Nashville to catch concerts and comedy shows. He competes in barbecue competitions, hauling his portable meat smoker to competitions in his hometown.
But these days, Patton has a new mission: supporting his fellow LVAD patients.
While recovering from the procedure at UK HealthCare’s Albert B. Chandler Hospital, he received an unexpected gift: a vase of fresh flowers. Delivered by Random Acts of Flowers, an organization that delivers bouquets of flowers to hospitals to be distributed to patients, Patton was touched by the gesture.
“It really touched me that people donate their time and money just to bring stuff to complete strangers,” he said. He vowed that when he returned home to Owensboro, he would do the same.
Inspired by the simple gesture, he launched Petals for Patients — a grassroots effort to deliver flowers and encouragement to fellow heart patients. What began with a single vase has now blossomed into a mission to brighten hospital rooms and lift spirits across Kentucky. Patton met with Chad Hart of the Owensboro Health Foundation, an organization that connects area businesses with opportunities to help patients. When Hart learned about Patton’s mission, he reached out and offered the services of the foundation.
“It is Bobby’s way of expressing his gratitude for the care he received,” said Hart. “It is Bobby’s way to pay it forward for the small but mighty gesture he received while in care at UK HealthCare. I knew that if we were able to start this program at Owensboro Health, Bobby would be fulfilled, and so would many other patients like him.”
With Hart’s help, Patton collected $7,500 local business in Owensboro. Nurses at UK Chandler Hospital collected discarded vases from around the hospital, and Owensboro florist Ashley Nosinger from Ivy Trellis Floral created dozens of bouquets, only charging Patton the wholesale cost of the flowers.
“Chad figured it all up,” said Patton. “It cost $10 a bouquet, and we could do 10 patients a week so that would be about $4,000 a year. The more money we raise, the more bouquets we’ll do.”
“We were able to use our existing florist in the Owensboro Health Gift Shop to help with standardization of the process, preparing and delivering the bouquets,” said Hart. “In addition to that, our Foundation is set up and prepared to receive funding to make the program sustainable and free.”
On May 23, 2025, his car overflowing with colorful flowers, Patton and his mother arrived in Lexington with the first delivery of Petals for Patients.
“I wanted to bring it back to where it all began,” he said.
Guided by the cadre of nurses that know Patton well from his inpatient stays, he made the rounds on the 8th floor, delivering flowers, smiles and encouragement to his fellow LVAD patients. Some of them are old friends, people he got to know when he himself was a patient. Most were strangers, starting on their own journeys with the LVAD. Patton was as generous with advice as he was with floral cheer. He shared his story, answered questions and let them know he was there for them if they ever wanted to talk.
“It feels awesome,” Patton said after finishing the first round of deliveries. “Being in their shoes and knowing what they’re going through, it makes me glad to see a smile and cheer their day up.”
Michaela Bell, a mechanical circulatory support coordinator in UK HealthCare’s Gill Heart & Vascular Institute who has gotten to know Patton well over the past two years, got to see firsthand the impact Patton made on his fellow patients.
“It was moving to see Bobby deliver the flowers to patients,” she said. “They seemed to be touched and surprised. Bobby has witnessed firsthand the difficulties these patients are walking through. The emotional and psychological challenges that come with living with a VAD can often feel isolating. This small act of kindness brought smiles to patients and the encouragement they needed.”
A few days later, one of the nurses passed along to Patton a note from one of the recipients, calling him “an angel” and thanking him for bringing her such a thoughtful gift as she recovers from heart surgery. Bell said seeing the patients smile helped the staff as well.
“One patient said it was just so nice to meet someone else who had a VAD and to see them doing well,” she said. “I think this had a big impact on our patients and even lifted the spirits of the staff on the floor. Bobby’s compassion for others was deeply impactful. Even though he has had his own health challenges, he continues to bring joy to others.”
Patton has big plans for Petals for Patients. He wants to partner with businesses in other communities to bring flowers to heart patients in hospitals all over Kentucky. In the meantime, he’s bringing cheer to his own hometown.
A few weeks after the first delivery in Lexington, he made the rounds at Owensboro Health, teaming up with the nurses and providers who were there for the first part of his heart journey. He plans to make deliveries to the two other hospitals in the Owensboro Health system, Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center and Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital. With the help of Hart and the Owensboro Health Foundation, and the collaboration between the Owensboro Health and UK HealthCare through the Gill Affiliate Network, the hospitals can collaborate on more than just patient care.
“Bobby is a man who was deeply impacted by a random act of kindness,” said Hart. “Because of Gill and the partnership with Owensboro Health, Bobby has a renewed outlook on life, and he is living it to the fullest. I can see the sincerity in his face when he says, ‘I just want to brighten someone’s day.’ He has zero ulterior motives; he is all in on this to ensure someone is better off.”
When talking about his program, Patton seems to be at a loss for words, but the joy and gratitude he exudes is almost palpable. While he walks the same path as those patients he’s helping, he’s only thinking about how to make their journey easier.
“When I first got out of the hospital, I didn’t think I would get to do something like this,” he said. “The nurses told me it was the first time they saw their patients smile. Mission accomplished. I’m just getting started.”
For more information, contact the Owensboro Health Foundation.
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