Ann Butterfield Kramer Honors Father’s Legacy With Lifesaving Equipment at Taylorville Memorial Hospital
When scholarship applications began to slow, Ann Butterfield Kramer picked up the phone and asked a simple question: What does the hospital need? The answer improved emergency care in Taylorville.
Ann, a longtime supporter of the Taylorville Memorial Foundation and daughter of the late John H. Butterfield, worked with the foundation to redirect funds from the John H. Butterfield Agriscience and Nutrition Scholarship toward the purchase of two LUCAS Chest Compression Systems.
One device is now in use in the Taylorville Memorial Hospital (TMH) Emergency Department. The second was placed with the Taylorville Fire Department.
A LUCAS device is an automated CPR machine that delivers continuous, consistent chest compressions, even during patient transport. Unlike manual CPR, the device doesn’t tire. That matters in emergencies where care must continue for extended periods or inside a moving ambulance.
The devices also improve safety for first responders, who can remain seated and belted while the machine handles compressions, a practical advantage that can be difficult to achieve with hands-only CPR during transport.
“These LUCAS devices provide consistent, high-quality chest compressions, which decreases the chance of human error and fatigue,” said Eli Heicher, TMH chief nursing officer. “They are a great tool that allows our ED team to treat patients quickly and effectively.”
How the Idea Came Together
The redirection happened gradually and, in many ways, naturally. As fewer scholarship applications arrived each cycle, Ann reached out to the foundation to explore other options.
Around the same time, she came across a newspaper article about a Boy Scout in another community whose service project focused on the benefits of LUCAS devices during CPR. She brought the idea to then-president and CEO Kim Bourne. When Kim confirmed the technology would be valuable at TMH, Ann moved forward.
“The foundation has been very helpful,” Ann said. “The big thing is when they identify a need, they have raised the funds to be able to support the cause. They have been very receptive to my wishes and my thoughts as we proceeded.”
A Family’s Legacy
Placing one device with the fire department was important to Ann. Her father’s name had long been tied to education and community investment, and she wanted this gift to reflect that same broad reach.
“This donation reflects the Butterfield family’s deep commitment to community health and emergency care, ensuring lifesaving technology is available when it matters most,” said Katie Champion Williams, foundation director. “Ann was thrilled to honor her father’s legacy by funding lifesaving equipment not only for the hospital but also the fire department.”
The Butterfield family’s story is a reminder of what donor relationships with the Taylorville Memorial Foundation can look like at their best: flexible, responsive and focused on what the community needs. To learn more about supporting Taylorville Memorial Hospital through the foundation, visit memorial.health.
