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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Senior Voices – Edward Hospital

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Are all of us seniors aware of how lucky we are to have Edward Hospital in our town? Normally I just know it is there, but, unfortunately, I found out first hand how great it really is.

First off, I have known I had an aneurysm on the ascending aorta. Every year the X-rays showed it was getting larger. Walking around with a time bomb in your body is not a good feeling. But I kept putting off doing anything about it.

One afternoon not feeling good, I took a short nap on the sofa and kept thinking, “Is this when I am going?”

I surely wasn’t ready to leave yet. After all, I had things to do and I had to write this monthly column!

That began the process of interviewing surgeons to find the best one in the U.S. I checked not only the Chicago area, but also Mayo’s. Then I interviewed several doctors.

“If I were your Mother, would you recommend the surgery?” I asked one doctor.

He replied, “I hated my mother!” I immediately erased him from the list.

I asked another doctor if he had done many of these surgeries. He replied he had done over 300 that past year.

I said “Well, I guess you know your way around the heart!”

To which he replied, “Yes, Bev. But the next question you should ask me is how many survived?”

So I asked for an answer to that question and the answer was “All of them!”

And guess what? He is at Edward.

I then talked to my kids as to questions to ask of him. They came up with a 2-page typed list of questions. I dropped it off at his office and said that it was his homework. And I received a phone call responding to all the questions. Surgery was then scheduled and I was in Edward for five days. There is not one suggestion I have for improving the care and attention I received. They really knock themselves out for your well-being. This was Phase One of heart rehab.

Then you go home and the home nurse and physical nurse come every day. I looked forward to their visits. After that program, then I graduated to Phase Two of going to the Heart Rehab center at the hospital three times a week for 12 weeks. And again, the staff couldn’t be more concerned and helpful to each patient. They are continually monitoring each patient. What a busy, busy place that is. I was told it is one of the largest rehab programs in Illinois. It’s a merry group and they even sing a song to a graduate upon leaving their program.

I am now a member of the “zipper club.” I called the doctor and asked how soon I would feel as good as I did before surgery? He responded six months. I exclaimed that I thought I would bounce back in two weeks.

He said, “Look at it this way, Bev. Your lifetime warrantee is now extended to 110!”

So maybe it was worth it.

Phase Three is optional to maintain your health. The fee is nominal and I look forward to continuing the program. It forces me not to sit and rock away and knit baby booties for great grandchildren. And I guess Phase Three is open to the public, with or without having had surgery.

If you ask me, Edward is a BIG plus for our residents.

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Bev Patterson Frier
Bev Patterson Frierhttp://napervill.il.us
Bev Patterson Frier was co-founder of the Senior Task Force with Karen Courney. Their efforts led to RAN, Ride Assist Naperville. Bev hails from Anderson, Ind., but the dedicated arts enthusiast boasts that Naperville is her family.

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