Sharon’s condition was tenuous, at best, as clots continued
to form in the arteries around her heart. Plans were made for
her to be air lifted to St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. “They
didn’t anticipate my survival and told me to say what I needed
to say to my family. We’re a tell-it-like-it-is kind of family, so
my kids, Kyle and Krissta, and my husband, Rick, all knew
how I felt about them,” Sharon explained. “I told a staff
member, though, that she underestimates me.”
Sharon is quick to acknowledge Tara Crews, Dr. Dande and
the cath lab staff for saving her life. She also says that a higher
power was with her at the time. “Someone was looking out
for me the entire time. My momma (Rose Pollard), who died
of a heart attack 11 years earlier, was working overtime that
day!” Sharon said. “She used to say, ‘I will always, always,
always take care of you,’ and she did.”
After spending four days in St. John’s Hospital and four more
days in a local nursing home, Sharon returned home to recover
fully. Her high school sweetheart and husband of 46 years, her
Heart disease claims more lives than any
other disease. That’s why Sarah Bush Lincoln is
taking measures to better care for community
members.
It is building a new Heart Center on the south
side of the Health Center. The 65,000-square-foot
addition will include two cardiac catheterization
labs, expanded clinic space, pulmonary function
testing, nuclear medicine, cardiac rehabilitation
(METS), stress testing, EKG and echocardiography.
The second floor includes 21 private patient rooms to
accommodate the growing volume of people seeking care at Sarah
Bush Lincoln. While construction is expected to be complete next
summer, the center will be in use in December 2018.
To help fund the $31 million expansion, the Sarah Bush Lincoln
Health Foundation has launched a capital campaign, “Life . . .
Nothing Beats It,” with a goal to raise at least $2 million. It has already
raised $900,000 toward the goal.
two grown children and a large extended family supported her.
“I take no time for granted,” Sharon said. “I’m not leaving
this Earth with anything unsaid.”
Sharon is especially grateful to Dr. Dande and the team for
giving her the last three years to enjoy her son, Kyle, who died
in March 2016 from complications of the H1N1 flu virus.
Watching her grandchildren grow into very special people has
been a particular joy for Sharon, as well.
Reflecting back on the November day when Sharon’s life hung
in the balance, she said, “I really was not afraid. If I died, I
thought I’d get to see Momma again; either way, God would
take care of me. Whether he takes me with him or leaves me
here, I’m going to be okay.”
Sharon’s 30-plus-year nursing career has taken her down many
paths, as change is an inevitable part of life. She now works
along side the very people who saved her life in the Heart
Center. Her gratitude to them is guaranteed.
“Heart disease claims one in four lives
nationally,” SBL Health Foundation
Director Amy Card said. Due to our
partnership with Prairie Heart Institute
of Illinois, the number of catheterization
lab cases has continued to climb, and
we have quickly outgrown the space to
care for our community members with
cardiac disease.”
“Life. . . Nothing Beats It” is led by Prairie
Heart Institute Cardiologists Amit Dande,
MD, Thomas Cahill, MD, and Michael LaMonto, DO, and
Advanced Practice Nurse Allyson Gough.
For more information about the expansion, or to make a
contribution, please call the SBL Health Foundation at
217-258-2511. More detailed information about the
expansion project can be found at www.sarahbush.org.
Rendering of the new Heart Center expansion.
For more information about The Heart Center, call 217-238-4960 or to www.sarahbush.org.
may 2017
healthstyles
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