Priceless pennies

TAMPA, Fla. - When you are at the hospital, most of the time it's not by choice. As a brain surgery survivor, Chris Granson knows that all too well.

"Everything starts with a positive mental attitude. You bring PMA to anything to every fight, you have a real shot at winning," Granson told FOX 13.

His brain surgery forced him to retire early, but that doesn't mean he's done working. Granson is now a volunteer at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa.

"I wake up happy and I go to bed happy. I'm not embarrassed to talk – this is what I was born to do," Granson said, standing in front of the information desk greeting people as they walk into the hospital.

Granson is one to give his two cents to lift people's spirits, but he physically gives you a cent less than that, a penny and it's worth so much more!

“This is the give-back time of my life. My kids are safe, happy and healthy. My grandkids are safe, healthy and happy, and I wanted to say, ‘Thank you,’ and couldn't think of a better way to say, ‘Thank you,’ than this," Granson explained.

Granson hands out pennies to people, especially children, to throw into the hospital’s wishing well.

"For all of those who put their pennies in there and make a wish, it represents hope. Anything we can do to make the kids feel a bit better, feel less stressful and more hopeful, we feel like we need to do that and that what we strive to do. Life wouldn't be much without some hope."

This program was actually started by Don Coryell who would shine the pennies and then bring them to St. Joe's and pass them on.

Chris does this as a way to not only help the folks who come through there - but also to keep Don’s memory alive.