CLEVELAND — If you work at the Cleveland Clinic, you probably know Patrice "Peaches" Houston, an employee for the last 22 years.
"It's impossible not to be drawn in by her," her supervisor Jonathan Davis said.
For the last 13 years, Peaches has shuttled patients around the main campus. She knows everyone. Some even call her "The Mayor."
When she first started, it took her a little while to find her way around.
"It took me about two weeks to learn the basics. And I was out on the floor by myself. When I was first out by myself, I said, 'Ooh. Do you know where you're going?'" Peaches told us.
Now she knows exactly where she's going. That might because in her long career, she's given about 40,000 rides to patients.
But it's not just about giving directions with her. She wants everyone to feel safe and comfortable when they're with her.
"Hi! How are you?" Peaches said over and over again the day we interviewed her.
On treatment days for patients, she is just what they need. People come here or healing, but the hospital can sometimes bring upon fear.
"I can kind of tell when they come in and they're turned around, they look scared and I'll always stop it and say, 'Hey, can I help you?' And that takes the fear away," Peaches said.
"She's able to really make people feel like you're not at the hospital, you're just having a nice ride with your good friend, Peaches,'" Jonathan said.
Peaches has a lot of good friends here. Years ago, she comforted one of her managers when he was a patient.
'She was always a friendly face and would stop and say hello, and we just (struck) up some brief conversations and it really made my day," said Michael Curry, patient transport manager at Cleveland Clinic Main Campus.
She has family here, too. Pamela Houston is Peaches' sister. She works as a surgical coordinator. The two have lunch every day.
"She's always helping. She's always going out of her way. She's always been that way," Pamela said. "We're best friends."
Her love stretches far beyond these hospital walls. Peaches is a mother, grandma, sister and friend. She also has a loving fiancée, Walter.
"I like to spend my time with my family. I like to go fishing. And I like the casinos, too!" Peaches said.
She's a gift to this hospital, her colleagues and patients. If they only knew how very much they mean to her.
"The patients have an impact on me, as well. They keep me humble, you know? I know this might be me one day or someone I love and I will hope someone would treat me that way," Peaches said.
On Wednesday morning, Peaches appeared on the TODAY Show, where they surprised her with a trip to Mexico. You can watch that below.
