The Tampa Hampton Inn at Ybor City Opens Its Heart and Doors to the Family of Valerie Post, a Pregnant Victim of Swine Flu

This is a follow-up article on Bryan Post, 24, who recently lost his pregnant wife, Valerie, due to complications of the H1N1 Swine Flu virus.

Life had been good for Bryan and Valerie Post. They were expecting a new baby sister for 17 month old daughter, Trinity. They were packed and ready to move and join family in South Dakota. They had a bright future ahead of them. They both were in love. They both had jobs. They never had to ask anyone for help. All that changed when Valerie, 7 months pregnant, came down with H1N1 Swine Flu virus and was admitted to Tampa General Hospital. Doctors delivered her baby daughter two months early and fought to save their lives.

Life then changed drastically for Bryan, the young father and husband. Bryan's home was in Citrus County nearly a 2 hour drive to and from the hospital in Tampa. He didn't dare leave his wife and baby daughter, and the commute was getting too much. Some nights Bryan slept in a chair at the hospital. Some nights he slept out in the hospital parking lot, in his car. He had no idea his ordeal would last for 52 days. He didn't go to work. When Valerie was placed in a medically induced coma, Bryan had to be near his wife and baby.

Finally, exhausted and needing a shower, he reserved a room nearby, at the Ybor City Hampton Inn. He hoped he could come up with the $139 to pay for it. He didn't know it then, but there is an angel working at the Ybor City Hampton Inn. Her name is Laura Miner.

Laura Miner is a 25 year old desk clerk. She was reading the newspaper when the story about the Post family caught her eye. She felt so sorry for the young couple with a toddler and a newborn "That poor little toddler must miss her mom," Laura thought. She decided she would try to help.

She talked to her boss and showed him the story. Couldn't they donate a couple of rooms? The manager gave her two rooms for the night. She called someone at the newspaper to find out where Bryan Post was staying so she could tell him. It turned out that the room Bryan had already booked for the night, was right there, at their Hampton Inn.

When Bryan arrived later, the clerk at the front desk said they were expecting him. A suite with two queen beds and a kitchenette was waiting. She wouldn't let him pay. She told him that there was also another suite, if he wanted to bring along his daughter and her grandparents.

His daughter, Trinity, 17 months, had been staying with his in-laws in Homosassa, Florida. The next day they all moved into the Hampton. For the first time in weeks Bryan slept.

The family thought they were just going to be at the Inn for a day or two; but when Valerie didn't get better, their stay was extended. Days later when he was able to bring his infant daughter Nora, home, Bryan brought her to the Hampton Inn.

The hotel staff did all they could to make the family comfortable. They brought toothbrushes, toothpaste, snacks and aspirin. Laura Miner learned that Bryan enjoyed Mountain Dew and Trinity liked Animal Crackers, so she stocked their rooms with both. The inn's shuttle service drove Bryan and his in-laws back and forth, to and from the hospital. Laura even babysat Trinity. She took the little girl out for pizza, and for rides on the carousel at a nearby mall. "We were just trying to anticipate their needs," Laura said, "they never asked for anything."

The days turned into weeks. In late September, when Valerie took a turn for the worse, family members from Canada, Portugal and Brazil flew in to see her. They all stayed at the Hampton Inn, occupying ten rooms. The manager wouldn't let anyone pay.

On the day Valerie died, 17 month old, Trinity was with Laura. It was Laura's day off, .and she was babysitting. They went to Wendy's and then bowling. Outside the bowling alley, turtles were sunning themselves in a little pond. At the very time Valerie Post died, her daughter was feeding Goldfish Crackers to those turtles. She was holding desk clerk, Laura Miner's hand. Valerie was only 24.

The combination of Laura Miner's desire to help, and the Hampton Inn's willingness to sacrifice some financial profit in order to do some good, makes a powerful statement during these days of corporate greed and excesses.

Other charity events are being planned to benefit the Post family. They include:

a poker run by Harley Davidson of Crystal River on November 14^th.

Also participating are:

Mickey's Bar and Billiards

Ramble Inn

Oar House

Castaway's Restaurant.

Sources:

TBO News

St. Pete Times