Help from the grave

In the fall of 2017, I was having trouble breathing. My respiratory rate was extremely fast. Although I had received a tracheostomy and was started on invasive ventilation, my doctors did not know a lot about ventilator settings. During a visit by my respiratory therapist (RT) from my durable medical equipment (DME) company, my RT asked if I had ever seen Dr. H, the medical director for the DME company. I replied I had not. The RT told me Dr. H was very familiar with ventilators and neuromucsular conditions. She probably could help me out. I did an internet search to find Dr. H's contact information. I called and was able to set up an appointment to see the physician.

Dr. H was incredible. She worked extremely hard and constantly thought about ways to help her patients. If you could not make the journey to see her, she would do appointments via FaceTime. I have never seen a person dedicate so much time and energy towards one's patients. She was never too busy to answer your questions.

During my appointment with Dr. H, the physician immediately knew I needed testing to figure out my ventilator settings. She sent me to the hospital where I was admitted. She adjusted my settings and did numerous tests in the hospital which revealed extremely useful information such as my diaphragm muscles were nearly paralyzed. She summoned the help of the neurology team from the hospital's neuromuscular team. They also ran tests which yielded insightful information regarding my Mitochondrial Disease. At the end of the week, my breathing was better. Dr. H said I could continue to follow with her, but since I was already established with another doctor at a different hospital, Dr. H thought it was better to go back to my doctor. We parted ways.

In the spring of 2019, as I was sitting in my hospital bed trying to get the heater on my ventilator to work, I went to my DME company's website to find their phone number. When the page appeared, there was a picture of Dr. H with the words about how she is an angel. The message confused me. I went to the DME's Facebook page in which I found a notice for Dr. H's memorial service. I was shocked and stunned. Dr. H died!? She was only 60 years old. The photos from the memorial service showed about 5,000 people crammed into a gymnasium. It was standing room only. I wondered as I gazed at the photo if all these people knew her or if it was more of a hospital social gathering. I mean, how could one person affect 5,000 people's lives?

In March 2020 (a year after Dr. H's death), my pulmonologist abandoned me. I needed urgent medical treatment. I could no longer go to my regular hospital since my pulmonologist made it clear there was very damning information in my medical chart there. So, I went just a stone's throw away to the hospital where Dr. H used to work.

The emergency department (ED) doctor looked up my chart. In my medical records, Dr. H's name was listed as one of the doctors who saw me during my only visit to the hospital in the fall of 2017. The ED physician asked if Dr. H was my doctor. I said yes. He then said what a wonderful person she was. I could see this man really loved Dr. H and as he spoke about her, I could feel his broken heart.

When I arrived in my hospital room, an internal medicine doctor saw me. He also asked if Dr. H was my doctor. I again said yes. Tears sprang up in this man's eyes. He did not say anything for a few seconds. He choked back tears and said what a wonderful woman she was, what a terrible loss it was she passed away and what a tremendous hole she left behind her.

When a pulmonologist visited me, the scene played out almost exactly as I was asked if Dr. H was my physician. I was asked who now was my pulmonologist. As God had worked it out, I had just lost my pulmonologist the day before. So, I told the physician I was in need of a pulmonologist. He told me I could follow up with him.

I was shocked so many people knew Dr. H. Furthermore, when it was found out Dr. H was my doctor, I was given the utmost attention and care. It was as if the doctors were trying to show honor and respect to Dr. H for all her hard work and effort...and now since she has passed away, the only way the doctors could now pass on this love was by taking good care of Dr. H's patients.

As I think back to the photo of 5,000 people packed into a gymnasium for Dr. H's memorial service, I know Dr. H did not affect 5,000 people's lives. No, she impacted far more people--patients who could not travel to the event, healthcare professionals who had to work during the memorial service and people who were too upset to attend. Although Dr. H lived only 60 years, she made the most of those years and profoundly changed the world...and her legacy continues to help her patients today.