Where We Stand: Hospitals show spirit of giving.

Orlando’s worst day — the June 12 Pulse nightclub massacre — brought out the community’s best in countless acts of heroism, compassion, generosity and unity.

And though it’s been 11 weeks since 49 innocent people were shaog t eto death and more than 50 were injured, the community isn’t about to forget the victims and their families.

The latest reminder came this past week. Two hospitals that treated the victims, Orlando Health and Florida Hospital, announced they would not bill the survivors for out-of-pocket expenses. Orlando Health expects to write off at least $5 million in medical bills associated with treating 44 Pulse patients, and Florida Hospital will absorb more than $525,000 for treating a dozen.

David Strong, president and CEO of Orlando Health, gave credit to many organizations and individuals that had provided support to his hospital. “This is simply our way of paying that kindness forward,” he said.

Daryl Tol, Florida Hospital’s president and CEO, noted how the community had united in response to the shooting. “We hope this gesture can add to the heart and goodwill that define Orlando,” he said.

One of the Pulse victims, who was uninsured and faced medical bills of $20,000, told Sentinel reporter Naseem Miller that it was a “huge relief ” to know he wouldn’t have to pay them. No doubt he speaks for others.

It’s true that both hospitals are large, prosperous chains that normally write off millions in charity care every year, and receive government funds to offset some of the cost. Even so, their joint decision to spare all the Pulse victims the burden of any medical bills reflects a wisdom and compassion worth commending. And the efforts of their doctors and nurses to save victims — detailed in several Sentinel stories — were extraordinary.

While freed from the burden of any medical bills, victims of the shooting will face lots of other expenses related to the horrors they suffered. Many if not most should qualify for payouts from the main compensation fund for victims, which has received more than $20 million in donations — another example of a response for which we can all be proud and grateful.

But as we wrote the day after the shooting, those victims will continue to need the community’s love and support for a long time to come. Decisions such as last week’s from the hospitals give us hope that they will get it.