For more than three decades, Bunnia Greenwood was the steady hand in the neonatal intensive care unit, comforting parents and holding premature babies through their first fragile hours. Now, the caregiver has become the patient—and in a moment she calls one of the greatest of her life, country music icon Randy Travis flew to Chicago to meet her face to face.
Greenwood, a retired NICU nurse, is undergoing treatment at City of Hope Chicago after receiving multiple cancer diagnoses over the years. Despite the weight of her illness, she has become known among hospital staff and loved ones for her unwavering optimism and a simple motto she repeats often: Choose joy.
That joy was on full display when Travis and his wife, Mary, walked into her room. Hospital staff had initially hoped to arrange a video call with the country star, but the couple decided to go further, traveling to Chicago to surprise Greenwood in person. When Travis entered, she was moved to tears, calling the visit one of the greatest moments of her life.
A lifetime of care, a moment of grace
Greenwood spent over 30 years working in NICUs, helping thousands of families navigate some of the most stressful days they would ever face. Her dedication to others made the surprise visit all the more meaningful—after a lifetime of giving, she finally received something extraordinary in return.
For Greenwood, Travis’s music has been a source of strength throughout her treatment. Songs like “Three Wooden Crosses” and “Forever and Ever, Amen” have carried her through hospital stays and recovery, offering comfort when she needed it most. Meeting the man behind those songs, she said, was a dream she never expected to come true.
The visit also carried a deeper resonance given Travis’s own health journey. In 2013, the country legend suffered a massive stroke that left him fighting for his life and significantly affected his ability to speak and sing. Through years of rehabilitation and with the support of his wife, Mary, he has gradually returned to public life, making this gesture all the more poignant.
Greenwood’s story is a reminder of the power of music and human connection, especially for those facing long battles with illness. Her resilience has inspired not only her family and friends but also the medical staff who care for her. As she continues her treatment, she holds onto the memory of that surprise visit as a bright spot in a difficult journey.
For the Latino community in Chicago and beyond, Greenwood’s story resonates with the values of family, care, and perseverance that are so central to our cultures. It also echoes the broader theme of how food and tradition can play a role in cancer prevention, a topic that has gained attention in recent years.
As Greenwood continues to fight, her motto remains a guiding light: choose joy. It’s a lesson that transcends borders and backgrounds, reminding us all to find moments of happiness even in the hardest times.
