HEALTH FIRST Nurses Martha Andes and Lise Cormier stop to share a few thoughts before walking out of Health First's Holmes Regional Medical Center April 23 following their last shift before retirement. Andes began at Health First in 1986, and Cormier, just a few short years later. Together, they have 73 years experience.

After a combined 73-year career, Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center nurses Martha Andes and Lise Cormier walked out of the Health First's Holmes Regional Medical Center Tuesday evening for the last time through a celebratory cordon of well-wishers, including Health First Chief Nursing Officer Cheyana Fischer.

“They are shining examples of what selfless, loving, and heart-led nursing looks like,” Fischer says. “My heart is filled with gratitude for the countless lives Martha and Lise have touched.”

HEALTH FIRST Nurses Martha Andes and Lise Cormier were interviewed by Fox35's Amy Kaufeldt for a segment on Good Day Orlando April 26.

Lifelong friends and self-proclaimed “work wives," Andes and Cormier departed through an associate entrance of the hospital amid health system leaders and colleagues calling out their names, applauding, and waving signs and pompoms.

“They call us the work wives,” Andes said, immediately following the sendoff, as the assembled were reaching out for a last hug – and any available tissue.

From the time Andes trained Cormier in the Oncology Unit at Holmes, the two have been nearly inseparable. Co-workers were able to predict their final route leaving the hospital for the last time, and exactly when it would happen – though the celebration was kept as a complete surprise to the two veterans.

The two nurses have survived hurricanes – often sleeping at the hospital during the worst of the weather – as well as the hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through it all, they agreed, they witnessed a lot of changes – and some immutable things that sustained them.

“We lasted so long because of the people,” Cormier said.

It’s not a coincidence the two became the very best of friends, Andes said. There’s a tremendous amount of heart that goes into nursing. It brings people closer naturally.

“It’s the heart. You have to have the heart to be a nurse,” Andes said.

“If you like to give and help people, go into nursing,” Cormier said. “There’s so many fields! [Holmes Regional] only touches on a few. There’s many more. But you have to care,” Cormier said.