A Thanksgiving Story | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

To the editor:

Thanksgiving evening, 2011.

Sudden onset chest pains, stabbing, throbbing, searing. Something physically very wrong, not going away. Hard to breathe, even talk.

Chew an aspirin, call 911.

Aid cars, ambulance, gurney, road trip, hospital, emergency room. Main line, oxygen, drugs, injections, EKGs, X-rays, lab work, sonogram, more tests.

Volunteers, EMTs, nurses, specialists, doctors, technicians, assistants. More than 30 people introduce themselves, jump in, hands-on care, do their dance.

An exquisitely trained team takes charge. Everyone focused, caring, professional, positive, each playing a unique part.

Thinking later of all of those unseen folks I didn’t meet, smoothly directing in the background — and of all the families, at home, supporting, celebrating Thanksgiving dinner without them.

A big-time thank you to each and every one of you who compassionately and exceptionally cared for me. How much I enjoyed you all! (And yes, still here to tell the story.)

Feeling unbelievably grateful to have access to this incredible resource: the entire Whidbey General Hospital network, created and supported by our community.

To my friends and neighbors here on South Whidbey: Rest assured that when your own moment of need arises, for you and your loved ones, we have an extraordinarily great medical team available here to help and care for us all.

What good fortune!

KAREN EILEEN HASKINS

Langley

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