The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Appreciation for Doctors and staff at Great River Medical Center and E.R.

Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner

It has been over a month or two, but I was recovering slower than I wanted to from an emergency trip to the hospital in Burlington, IA - Great River Medical Center. It seems I have been there frequently with other people this Spring and mostly the E.R. is always a waiting game.

It is just the opposite when you are brought into the E.R and tell the receptionist you are having chest pains.

I had been trying to get out of the house for two days and do a few tasks and wasn't able to do it and wondering why. I felt I must really be out of shape! I had made a pie on Sunday and every day I could not make the topping due to feeling sluggish.

By Friday I went outside, picked up a few sticks and threw them into the timber and could hardly make it back inside. My heart was beating very fast and my chest was hurting. I thought I was going to pass out before I could get inside to a chair.

After some time I felt better and decided to make myself get in better shape and broom off the front porch. I could feel it happening again so I went back inside, discouraged, and called my daughter Tami, an R.N. who was luckily on call and at home.

Tami said, "That is not normal, mom. You should be able to put meringue on a pie. Do you want me to take you to the E.R.?"

Recalling my father's heart attack and what I had just read about the effects and after affects, I decided I'd rather go and they send me home with an exercise booklet than be sorry and it actually be my heart.

I just read on the Mayo Clinic site where a Mayo cardiac nurse did the same thing, making excuses that she couldn't be having a heart attack. She was an avid exerciser and felt heart attack symptoms as she was on the bicycle at the gym. Her's was a rare and newly discovered heart condition that only a scan can find. She survived because of her quick decision to call her husband and go to the E.R.

As Tami and I walked in GRMC's E.R., Tami announced, "She has chest pains!" and they sent me right back.

Everything happen so fast I felt scared and was teary-eyed. The staff was coming from everywhere, giving me 4 aspirins, taking my blood, (which showed raised enzymes-heart attack symptoms critical potassium and kidney levels), x-raying my chest, giving an EKG, inserting IVs for nitro, potassium, blood thinner, a drug to expland arteries, giving me 2 additional potassium pills to swallow while trying to calm me saying, it was just procedure for chest pain. I was weighed and admitted to the Cardiac 2nd floor for a echogram and coronary angiogram later, but I passed out into the arms of a traveling Mayo Clinic nurse before I could get to my bed and a Rapid Response call brought a team of staff and doctors. I woke to a room-full of professionals who did another series of blood and x-rays and EKG and more IVs.

I was given a lot of fluid for dehydration and I wasn't allowed out of bed the 4 days due to being a "fall risk". The staff watched over me every second taking blood every two hours trying to raise my potassium and my low blood pressure.

Monday, the early morning echogram and coronary angiogram procedure by Dr. Saad and excellent team found I had a very healthy heart and no stents were needed-thus not a heart blockage or attack. Tuesday afternoon I was not well but improved enough to go home with 20 extra pounds (yikes) from fluid they had given me through IVs.

I have so much respect for the doctors, nurses (incuding Tami), and staff at Great River Medical Center. Thank you for your professionalism and caring. Keep on doing what you do. We love you for it.

To my loving family and friends, thank you for your kindnesses and caring ways. May God bless each of you.