To the Editor:

I would like to share my wife’s recent medical experience with the Daily News readers. Living in eastern North Carolina, it seems we are constantly bombarded with stories regarding medical services and issues that at times are presented in less than a positive light. Thus, we think that it’s important to highlight the recent actions of the Vidant medical staff at Belhaven, Beaufort (Washington) and Greenville. These professionals, while acting in concert with Beaufort County’s EMS paramedics, saved my wife’s life.

Specifically, on June 11, 2016, my wife, Patsy Marie Huggins, suffered a fall on our outside stairs that left her battered, bruised and disoriented. My neighbor and I immediately brought her to the clinic in Belhaven. Within minutes of arriving at Belhaven, Dr. Jones advised that my wife was high risk. He made this assessment based on her previous health issues and current medications. He said she needed to be sent to Vidant Beaufort immediately. Within minutes, she was being transported to Washington in a Beaufort County EMS trauma ambulance. En route, my wife slipped into respiratory arrest, and upon arrival at Beaufort, she went into cardiac arrest. As the paramedics worked to save her life, they were met by Dr. Rodriguez-Carrion and her trauma team. Patsy went into cardiac arrest twice and was brought back both times by the Vidant trauma team.

Several hours passed before she was stabilized. Once it was determined that she met the criteria to be moved, she was seamlessly placed in the hands of the Vidant medevac team. They assumed responsibility for her care and flew her to Greenville.

Upon arrival in Greenville, she was moved into the Intensive Care Unit at the Heart Institute. On June 24, 2016, Patsy was discharged and is on the road to a full recovery.

In closing, I want to publicly state that while the men and women of Vidant Medical and Beaufort County will never say it, “they get it right more times than not” and for that very reason, we will be forever grateful.

 

Charles T. (Tom) Huggins
Belhaven