Last June, 85-year-old Faye Bauman fell and broke her hip, prompting hospitalization at North Florida Hospital in Gainesville. During her time there, she removed several pieces of jewelry, including a beloved diamond engagement ring given to her by her late husband. After her recovery, she realized that she had left the hospital without her jewelry and the ring was nowhere to be found.
For nearly a year, Bauman and her daughter pressed hospital officials for answers and even filed a police report, but to no avail. The jewels, including the precious ring, seemed to be gone forever. Bauman's frustration grew as she felt ignored by the hospital's CEO and her calls went unanswered.
The ring had immense sentimental value to Bauman. It was a half-carat diamond set in white gold, given to her by her husband when he proposed in his Navy dress uniform. They were married for 47 years, during which he always treated her like a princess, even bringing her breakfast in bed every day.
After her husband developed dementia and Parkinson's disease in his fifties, Bauman cared for him, just as he had cared for her. Their love story spanned from Florida to Rhode Island, from London to Istanbul and back to Florida.
As Bauman reminisced about her husband and their life together, the case of the missing ring took a turn. After investigations by a reporter, a Gainesville police spokesman announced that the case had been assigned to a detective. Additionally, a spokesperson for HCA Healthcare's North Florida division expressed regret over the loss of the ring and promised to reimburse Bauman.
While this was a step in the right direction, Bauman still wants to know how the ring disappeared and is looking for more answers about the hospital's actions in the following year. Despite the loss of her ring, Bauman fondly remembers her husband and their wonderful life together, and hopes to see him again in the afterlife.
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