Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) team members gathered for a somber ceremony on Oct. 25 to mark the one-year anniversary of the mass casualty incident in Lewiston.

The event took place in the main hallway of CMMC where the final patients who were wounded in the mass shootings were escorted out as team members lined the hallway to say goodbye.

Following a moment of silence and invocation by staff chaplain Claire Curole, several members of Central Maine Healthcare's senior leadership team spoke to those who gathered.

"Whether you were at CMMC that night or in the day or days after the lockdown was lifted you made a difference," said Steve Littleson, DBA, president and CEO, Central Maine Healthcare. "And here we stand together, grateful that we are here at this hospital that, for almost 140 years, has cared for our community."

"In all the chaos, we were nurses," said Kari Paradis, vice president of Nursing and Patient Services at Bridgton Hospital. "We put our training and skill to the test and into practice. We assumed roles, took charge, stayed focused and saved lives."

"What was most touching about the past 12 months was the way we came together," said John Alexander, MD, chief medical officer, Central Maine Healthcare. "And although it's hard, and we will never forget, we now make our way to the future carrying this with us along the way."

On the evening of the shooting, CMMC quickly assembled a large team of surgeons who have expertise in orthopedics, cardiovascular, thoracic, colorectal, urologic, plastic and general surgery.

They were aided by more than 100 nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other CMH healthcare professionals, all of whom have had extensive training in mass casualty incidents.

A total of 15 severely injured patients were transported to CMMC. Two were deceased upon arrival. One patient died after being admitted. Thirteen lives were saved.

Most admitted patients were discharged from CMMC within the first few weeks following the incident. Three, however, had an extended stay in the ICU because of their extensive injuries and the complicated, multiple surgeries they required.

Shortly after last year's tragedy, Central Maine Healthcare established the Compassionate Care Fund to provide resources for trauma response and support, including emotional and behavioral health services for the community and first responders, as well as trauma care for patients who can't pay. To learn more about the fund or to donate, please visit the "ways to give" page on www.cmhc.org.

Pictured: Steve Littleson, DBA, president and CEO, Central Maine Healthcare and CMMC team members gather for Oct. 25 commemoration ceremony.