I would like to share what has been one of the most enlightening and spiritually rewarding experiences I have had in my 73 years. It is strange to call a heart attack a rewarding experience but the individuals who crossed my path turned what could have been my time card being punched out to blessing me with another day.

My situation was unique in that I had an in-office gastrointestinal procedure which required a minor surgical intervention. Was driven home, felt awful, within an hour I was calling 911 for extreme pain in neck, back and chest. I had no idea I was having an atypical heart attack. The hospital has become a state-of-the-art teaching hospital with the foremost cardiac care unit in this area. Not only is the technical equipment the most up-to-date, but the premise of teaching has also changed. The residents and interns walk around with the lead resident or director along with the nurses for rounds so that everyone is on the same page. The focus of care includes mind, body, and soul. The eye contact and smile from every person involved with my care immediately assured me that I was safe, that these professionals had my best interest at heart.

My situation was life threatening on a two fold front, I needed a stent placed in my artery ASAP. These fantastic people knew exactly what they were doing, and again…I knew I was safe. Later the Assistant Director of Critical Care was putting in my IV, head resident was assuring me, all eyes were on me with utmost concern yet with confidence that together they would absolutely save my life which is exactly what they all did.

My lifeline, aside from being cared for by such an amazing staff mentored by true leadership, was my nurse, Kevin. Every nurse who cared for me went above and beyond in level of care, but there is an element of ability within Kevin that only a select few obtain. He can sense what his patients are feeling physically and emotionally and meet their needs without them asking; he already knows. After each test I had, after each procedure was completed, I would open my eyes, and there was Kevin looking intently to gauge how I was…and again, I knew I was safe. Kevin set the standard of caring for another human and having the knowledge and capacity to alter a patient’s quality of life, ensuring they can reach the highest. And I would not have lived through this experience had it not been for the excellent, knowledgeable, and immediate care that I received from the moment the ambulance brought me into the ER to the moment my nurse wheeled me out to rejoin life again. Thank you all a thousand times for what you all gave me, for which I will always be so humbly grateful.