Dartmouth-Hitchcock

Irene believes that if she hadn't done anything, she would have lost her foot. She says that the trial "has worked miracles for me."

The nursing staff on 4 West had just gotten Timothy Day up for a walk—his first since having surgery three days before to repair an infected prosthetic graft in his groin. Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) Donald Tacewicz and Day had barely made it through the doorway of Day's room when floor nurse Courtney Peterson, RN, heading into an adjacent patient room, saw something that stopped her in her tracks.

They were wonderful there (at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center). The doctors were in to see me every single day. He (Dr. Stone) was very kind and seemed very interested.... in me.

Just this summer I began to feel breathless as I was exercising. Also, I was aware of some kind of sensation in my chest, perhaps a rapid heartbeat or irregular heartbeat. I knew something was wrong in there.

I chose Dartmouth-Hitchcock. Dartmouth-Hitchcock had a good reputation with everyone I spoke to and that was good enough for me. The way they treated me and the way they made sure everything was ok before I had surgery – I was convinced I was in good hands.

I was absolutely terrified when they told me I had to have valve replacement surgery. But, Dr DiScipio, my surgeon, was wonderful in explaining the process to me. Together we were able to decide which route would be best for me. Dr. DiScipio was my hero. He made what was a very scary process seem not so scary.

Partway through the day I started having chest pains and cold sweats. After a little while, I called my wife and she took me to the local hospital. I told her it was probably just indigestion. Then, my heart completely stopped and that’s the last thing I remember until I woke up ten days later.