December 27, 2004

MGHers show holiday kindness

Judy Tarselli, RN, of MGH Infection Control, doesn't feel like she has done anything special. But for a distraught couple who lost $700 in a missing wallet, Tarselli is an angel.

Tarselli discovered the lone wallet Dec. 11 when she was riding the commuter rail home to North Attleboro. She looked inside and found the money and a senior citizen's ID card. Wanting to make sure the wallet got back to its rightful owner, Tarselli gave the wallet to MGH Police and Security staff, who in turn gave it to MBTA officials. Tarselli also gave a special gift to the owner — a fanny pack to keep the wallet safe in the future.

It came as quite a surprise to Valentina Vaysgant, a 72-year-old Russian immigrant, when she was contacted by the MBTA that her wallet had been found and returned with the cash from her Social Security check still there. Vaysgrant and her husband, Alfred, had not reported the wallet missing, but instead had simply prayed for its safe return. They were so grateful that their prayer had been answered that they paid a special visit to the MGH last week to thank Tarselli and Police and Security staff.