A lasting legacy from a grateful patient
Thomas Higgins Jr. was a lifelong resident of Medford, Massachusetts. After proudly serving in the Navy during the Korean War, he attended Bentley University, graduated at the top of his class and began a career in the Public Works Department for the city of Medford where he remained until his retirement.
Thomas became a patient of Tufts Medical Center later in life after his niece, a Medical Center employee, urged him to seek treatment for a painful hernia. He didn’t think that anything could be done for such a large complex issue in an older patient, but gave the team at Tufts MC a chance, and did not regret it. Thanks to the work of surgeons Lilian Chen, MD and Martin Goodman, MD, Thomas’ hernia and the associated pain were gone. According to his niece, upon waking after the operation Thomas’ first words were “I am elated!” The successful surgery took care of a painful problem and greatly increased his quality of life.
Thomas passed away in 2019. But thanks to Tufts MC he lived comfortably and was able to return to the things he loved most: watching Jeopardy, reading, knitting, rooting for local sports teams and seeing his family. Thomas was best known in his extended family for folding dollar bills into rings and giving them as gifts to anyone who came to visit. Here at Tufts Medical Center we are grateful to also be beneficiaries of Thomas’ generosity through the thoughtful gift he made to the hospital through his estate. Though he was only a patient here for a short time it had a major impact on his life and he wanted to make sure others could receive the same quality of care.
Tufts Medical Center is honored that Thomas chose to make this gift. Contributions from the estates of generous friends like him are among the most meaningful gifts we receive, making a great difference in the care of future patients. For information about making a gift through your estate, please contact the Tufts Medical Center Development Office at 617-636-7656 or giving@tuftsmedicalcenter.org