Bakersfield.com

By: Sandy Minner

March 15, 2008

 

About a month ago, I read with interest the article about Rusty Shoop and his recovery from a brain aneurysm. Then a couple of weeks later, I read with interest the article about Kern Medical Center, and was reminded of its importance as the only trauma center between Fresno and L.A. Then today, I read with amazement about the Good Samaritan who stopped to thwart a kidnapping. God apparently wants me to do something, so here it is. I need to thank some people for helping my husband, Bill, in December 2005.

 

First, I’d like to thank the Hall Ambulance personnel who decided to take Bill to KMC, even though he didn’t have a scratch on him. He was found next to his bicycle, and they explained that KMC could best handle a problem that was trauma-related. Next, I’d like to thank the staff at KMC, especially the ER nurse who broke the news to me that Bill had suffered a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. Everyone at KMC was exceptional, and I am grateful that we have a Level II trauma center nearby.   I’d also like to thank the responders from Fire Station 13, who took Bill’s precious bike back to the station and called to let us know it was there.

 

I’d like to thank Dr. Charles Wrobel, who was walking past the ER on a Sunday morning, and stopped to inquire about the spandex-clad bicyclist who appeared to have neurological issues. After it became clear that Bill needed emergency brain surgery, Dr. Wrobel did an excellent job of fixing the aneurysm, then continued to monitor and control Bill’s condition to reduce the possibility of complications that often arise after a bleed in the brain.   I’d like to thank the staff at Centre for Neuro Skills, who helped Bill recover so quickly and so fully from the effects of his aneurysm. We are fortunate to have such a fine brain injury rehabilitation program nearby. Some of the other patients who were in the CNS program at that time had come here from Hawaii, Arizona, and Colorado for therapy. 

 

Last, but not least, I’d like to thank Bill’s angel of mercy (literally—she was on her way to her job at Mercy Hospital at the time), Susan Amparano. Susan thought it was “too weird” that Bill was sitting on the sidewalk at 7 in the morning in 37-degree weather. She stopped to ask if he was o.k. Seeing that he was not, she called 911 and waited until help arrived.   Bill’s body temperature was 88 degrees when he got to the ER, and we figure that he sat in the cold for about an hour and a half before Susan stopped. Dr. Wrobel told me that had he been out there for another half hour or so, the hypothermia would have caused problems, and the ER staff would have spent a lot of time dealing with that instead of focusing on his brain from the start. I think of Susan often, but especially today after reading about another Good Samaritan who took the time to help someone. 

 

I am grateful to each person who had a hand in Bill’s recovery.   All of you are my personal heroes. 

 

Sandy Minner