Luck of the tvhs leprechaun | va tennessee valley health care | veterans affairs

For Patrick Fitzsimons, St. Patrick's Day isn't a day for him to simply wear green. It's chance for him to suit up in his black kilt, green-checkered suspenders, and scruffy

red beard. Once he's finished gathering his pot of gold, Fitzsimons jigs throughout the Nashville VA celebrating his Irish culture and spreading his Irish luck and cheer to employees

and Veterans. Fitzsimons is a chaplain at TVHS and has been performing his leprechaun tradition since 2018.  "It was a way for me to celebrate the holiday and make peoples'

day," Fitzsimons said. "A lot of staff and Veterans enjoy seeing me in my Irish leprechaun costume. During COVID, it's really helped cheer up the nurses, providers, and

Veterans." On St. Patrick's Day, the Ireland native walks throughout the Nashville VA campus with his pot of gold and generously passes out his chocolate 'gold' to staff

and Veterans. The best part of the holiday for Fitzsimons is visiting inpatients in the medical intensive units and medical-surgical units and putting a smile on their face. "[The

leprechaun costume] cheers up the patients, and they really appreciate the special visit from a leprechaun," he said.  Fitzsimons came to the United States roughly 30 years ago and has

been at TVHS for four years. When he's not disguised as a leprechaun, he's providing spiritual care and wellbeing to staff, Veterans and Veteran families. For more TVHS St.

Patrick's Day photos, click here.