On September 9, 2014, Chestertown resident Jim Twohy arrived at UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown with symptoms of a stroke and was unable to speak.
With his December, 2015 donation, Mr. Twohy included a note asking that his gift be acknowledged to “The medical team that gave me TPA after my stroke on 9/9/14 and saved my life.” When asked if he would like to meet the team who cared for him and present them with an Everyday Hero pin, he jumped at the chance. “I would love that!”
On Friday morning, the nurses and doctor who cared for Mr. Twohy “had a chance we don’t often get,” said Jenn Nutley, manager, Emergency Services. “We almost never get to see a patient who has healed after a life-threatening medical situation and you have no idea how much it means to all of us that you took time out of your day to visit and say ‘thank you’.”
It took about a second for Mr. Twohy to look at Robert Desverreaux, MD and say, “I remember you and it is an honor to meet you again! Thank you!” Hugs and handshakes followed.
Inquiring about Mr. Twohy’s dog, about which he was hugely concerned during his ED visit, Victoria Spray, RN, said, “I remember you couldn’t speak very well but you were able to write us notes.”
Mr. Twohy was treated to a tour of the new Emergency Department, which he had never seen as he was treated in the temporary space during the construction of the new department.
The Everyday Hero Program provides patients and their family members an opportunity to thank a University of Maryland Shore Regional Health physician, employee or volunteer by making a financial donation to UM Chester River Foundation or UM Memorial Hospital Foundation in his or her name. For more information about the program in Chestertown, call 410-810-5660; for Dorchester and Easton, call 410-822-1000, ext. 5481
Walter Geddes says
Nice story. We all should support the hospital and its great staff. I also was so very grateful for our Chestertown staff. I’ve been in the ER twice (and flown to Baltimore both times) after our doctors and nurses treated me and stabilized my condition. Without this immediate treatment for a severe heart incident, I probably wouldn’t be here today. We are blessed to have this facility in Chestertown. I wish that I had been thoughtful enough to do what Jim Twohy did, and I’m even more impressed by the way the hospital responded to Jim’s letter.
Maryann Ruehrmund says
Mr. Geddes,
It is NEVER too late for you – or anyone else – to recognize your Every Day Heroes! Please contact me and I would be honored to help you!
Holly Geddes says
The first visit was especially scary for me. I didn’t wait for the ambulance crew to assemble and get to the house. We are only a couple blocks from the hospital, so I drove Walt there. By the time I parked the car the medical staff had things in hand. He had an IV and they put the chargers on him “just in case”. I had barely gotten in the room when the doctor came in quickly to say that those “just in case” chargers would be going off to re-start his heart. If we had not had a close-by facility, if the doctors and nurses had not been as competent and caring…… Well I would be a widow now. So I am very glad that we have a good hospital right in our own town. Thank you all. And thanks to the nurses who recognized my distress and helped me during Walt’s stay.