Karen Rich went home Tuesday.

After weeks as a patient in Butler Memorial Hospital, she was seated in a wheelchair and escorted by some of her new family — the people who took such good care of her — onto the elevator for the start of her departure home.

When the doors of the elevator opened, she was greeted by a whole host of gowned and masked friends she had made during her stay with the members of the Butler Health System family.

They stood the required 6 feet apart and kept their distance from her while applauding as she rode triumphantly through the hallways and out to the parking lot. Yes, she was their hero but surely not as much as they were heroes to her.

It is with great pride that we watched the video of the staff and management of BHS celebrating a life saved. A life that was very much in doubt the past few weeks.

The pain of losing even one patient — whether it is due to a pandemic virus or any other reason — is difficult to deal with, but this time it seemed like the whole world was watching.

Could our little community hospital beat this virus?

The health care professionals here in Butler were strongly up to the challenges being presented by a virus with unprecedented danger to this generation.

World and national numbers have been so staggering it would seem a single life doesn’t or wouldn’t mean much or look like much in the bigger picture.

But as that wheelchair and BHS’s miracle lady rolled through that hallway you see joy, you see pride, you see love and caring. If someone had put up raised arms to signal a Steeler touchdown or the horn had blown to indicate a Penguin goal, it would have seemed appropriate, but still not sufficient.

This moment was big. And as Bob Prince, The Gunner would have said, “WE had it all the way.”

Some of that wonderful staff is going to sleep well tonight. They have earned a good night’s rest. Others will be too busy doing what they do — saving lives.

But one thing is certain. Karen Rich is truly Richer for having been the guest of the BHS. Congratulations to everyone involved and all of their supporters.

Heck, we never even did so much as empty a bedpan and we still feel proud that a life was saved here in our town, in our community hospital, in Butler Health System.

Tonight we are all Rich. God Bless BHS and best wishes Mrs. Rich.