Grounds blessed and broken ahead of construction of new Mercy institute

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - Mercy broke ground on what they call a game-changer for gastrointestinal care, a new facility dedicated to digestive health. The name of the institute holds a special honor.

"And may almighty God bless the ground and all who will work and be serving here. In the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit," said Reverend Jimmy James, as he sprinkled holy water on the grounds.

With the ground freshly broken and blessed, construction on the new Kathryn Ann Meinders Digestive Health Institute can begin, after Herman Meinders donated $7.5 million for the state-of-the-art facility.

You may have heard the Meinders name before, from the Meinders school of business at OCU, or the pyramid shaped building at Mercy, the Meinders Neuroscience Center.

This new building is extra special, named after his late daughter, Kathy.

"Her first love was kids and education. She taught up in Denver. Right upon her death, she was at the age of 42 when she passed away in 2008," said Bob Meinders, Herman's brother.

Doctors said countless people struggle with some sort of gastrointestinal challenge.

"That may range from the occasional heartburn, to irritable bowel syndrome, to colon cancer. And we all know that colon cancer is the second-most common cancer death when numbers of men and women are combined," said Michelle Fortune, with Mercy.

GI doctors said this 52,000 square foot institute will be a game changer, with its 7 procedure rooms, 21 prep/recovery rooms, ambulatory services, clinics, and chapel.

"It's the only facility of it's kind in our state," said Dr. Hussein Bitar.

Mercy said the only other facility that is similar is located 500 miles away.

The Meinders family hopes this will serve as a beacon of hope and a reminder of a precious life lost.

"Kathy would be highly honored to know that her legacy is going to live on long past all of us. This building will be here forever," said Meinders.

Construction is expected to wrap up in the Fall of 2026.