Ryan Ostry
Bugle Reporter
@RyanOstry_BR18
rostry@buglenewspapers.com
After 34 years of helping parents welcome new babies into the world,
Edward Hospital’s Sandy Bumber, RN, an obstetrics (OB) nurse, put away her stethoscope for good on October 20, 2018.
The Lockport resident marked the occasion by taking off on what she called Sandy B.’s retirement tour, covering Atlanta, Orlando and Myrtle Beach, S.C.
In addition to more adventures ahead, her retirement will call for some adjustment.
“I loved it, and if I hadn’t gotten so old I would of kept going,” Bumber said jokingly. “I’m going to miss seeing my little babies, and seeing the moms and dads faces after brining that little creation to earth.”
Not long after graduating high school, Bumber married and started a family with her husband Jim.
When the youngest of her five children was about 12, she decided it was time to pursue her other lifetime goal — a career as a labor and delivery nurse.
She knew school wouldn’t be easy while working and raising a family, but she persevered, earning an associate’s degree in nursing in 1984.
This was soon followed by a job offer in labor and delivery at Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet.
When Bumber came to Edward in 1998 with 14 years of nursing experience, she was hired as a charge nurse in labor and delivery.
Bumber has received the best endorsement for her role as a labor and delivery nurse from her own family members.
She was invited to participate in the delivery of 11 of her grandchildren when she worked at Silver Cross Hospital and 10 of her great-grandchildren during her tenure at Edward.
Bumber’s close-knit family includes daughters Cindy Eaton, 55; Trish Ruzzini, 54; Jami Swearengen, 50; Becki Beal, 48 and son Shane Bumber, 52, and their spouses. In all, Sandy has 16 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
For the 74-year-old, she said that even though she wishes she could of still kept working, she has been enjoying this nice change of pace while traveling and spending some good quality time with her family.
“I had some family members and friends throw me some parties right after which was really nice. I told my kids it’s kind of like dying at your own wake, but you get to see all these people in real life come up and talk to you,” Bumber said jokingly.
In Bumber’s 34 years of experience, she said that she has seen a lot over the years, but being able to help out her family during the birthing experience is something she will always cherish.
“I’ve been in a lot of my own families deliveries including some of my children and grandchildren,” Bumber said. “Those have been very special for me to say I was the delivery nurse for my great grandbabies.”