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DELBARTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - We have a follow-up to 53 Days, the WSAZ Investigation into the disappearance and tragic end for Chuck Carroll.

In January 2022, we first told viewers about Chuck, a man with dementia who was taken to the hospital but was able to walk away and die.

His body was found weeks later -- just blocks from the hospital.

During Chuck’s disappearance and after his death, we took a closer look at all that went wrong in our documentary called 53 Days.

Little did we know that documentary would strike a chord with a classroom full of future health care workers. Students were determined to make a change, and their ideas are now becoming reality in multiple states.

“We have wanted this for so long. To actually see it come full circle, it’s crazy,” said Daylee Ellis, a Mingo Central High School senior.

Across the country, high school seniors are wrapping up those final days in the classroom -- looking forward to receiving that diploma.

But Ellis said a paper she’s been dreaming of is a little different. It has a purple hue, and it won’t be handed out at a ceremony.

These purple papers will be making their way through health care facilities in her community. Call it a passion project turned reality -- just in time for graduation.

It’s one Ellis believes will keep those who suffer from dementia a little safer -- the purple color alerting those who provide care to a patient’s cognitive issues.

The idea for the purple papers started in a classroom this year after Health Sciences teacher Andrea Clark gave her students an assignment -- to watch our documentary 53 Days.

It, of course, is Chuck Carroll’s story. He was taken to a hospital in Huntington for fever and vomiting but was able to walk away -- and die.

Chuck’s body was found 53 days later -- just blocks from the hospital.

Teacher Andrea Clark said she learned about Chuck’s story - from her cousin Nikki Hatfield.

“I opened the article, and I went out to watch the WSAZ, that you had done Chuck’s story. After i saw it, I went immediately and showed her the whole thing,” Hatfield said.

She works in health care in Tennessee where she’s also a student -- ultimately hoping to become a pharmacist.

WSAZ’s Sarah Sager asked her, “Did you ever dream that, you know, showing Andrea would create what’s happened now with how far things have come and well you’ve all been working on?”

Hatfield: “I really did not. I knew that it was going to hit close for her as it did for me. I never imagined that the students would take it as far as they had. but the fact that they have has opened so many doors for future health care workers for future nurses, anyone coming in or out of that program. and hopefully one day after speaking with Andrea, there is hope that this will grow to reach further regions of the country.”

And it has. The Mingo Central students have officially rolled out the purple papers at two skilled nursing facilities.

While Hatfield, as a part of a project toward her Masters degree, has helped to distribute purple alert forms in Sevierville, Tennessee.

“I sat down with all the medical assistants in a large group. I did a presentation for all of them and kind of just explained things, brought up some interesting points, showed them the clips from chuck’s story, 53 Days, and really explained to them how important it was to me that we get started here,” she said.

Hatfield told Sager that, during a six-week period, more than 3,100 patients were seen and about 15 percent filled out a purple alert form.

But the students and Hatfield believe the papers could go even further.

Sager: Where would you like to see this go ultimately?

Hatfield: I think that it is just important as the pink DNR papers. Of course every hospital has those. I feel the purple papers have the same importance when it comes to ranking things, especially in hospital settings, I think it is necessary.

“I really hope that it becomes not just statewide but like a nationwide thing,” Daylee Ellis said.

Statewide and nationwide are not outside the realm of possibilities.

“I actually spoke with your instructor about going to the American Health Care Association and seeing if they can get it pushed throughout of the state because it’s something that’s definitely needed in nursing care, hospitals, nursing homes and day cares. It’s very lacking in our communities.”

While these students hope to reach and help others with their purple papers, they say they’ll never forget where it all began.

“We’ve worked really hard to get these papers out and we’re trying to distribute them locally, so that we can make a change so that Chuck can make a change and so that his story can always be remembered throughout our community,” Ellis said.

Those seniors last day of high school is Friday, May 17, and graduation at Mingo Central High School is next Friday -- May 24.

In the meantime the juniors -- soon to be upcoming seniors -- will continue working on this project.