To The Journal editor:

Bell Hospital and Marquette General Hospital, thank you for each and every morning that my wife is still with me.

Saturday of the Labor Day weekend, I took my wife to the Bell Walk-in Clinic because she wasn’t feeling well. The physician’s assistant on duty asked a few questions and then gave us directions to the emergency room because they were equipped to give her proper treatment.

Within 15 minutes the ER physician started procedures to stabilize her situation and during the ensuing eight hours he was in contact the specialists at MGH. An ambulance transfer was arraigned to get her to MGH ICU.

The hospitalist on duty that night took charge and called upon all of the specialists that could assist in what had become a fight for her life. At the advice of the hospitalist I made arrangements to get our daughter home. In the early hours of Sunday morning a temporary pace-maker was installed and recovery slowly began.

Sunday morning the resident doctor became the coordinator of her ongoing struggle. Through Sunday and into Monday, her recovery was steady and the pace maker was removed when her heart could hold its own. Monday evening she was moved to a general care room with many scheduled tests and on Tuesday evening I was allowed to bring her home.

Throughout this struggle the nursing staff was the bedrock of care. As they tended to my wife with their technical training and their basic compassion I said thank you at every opportunity. Again I say thank you.

Thank you to the housekeeping staff and the entire MGH organization for a job well done.

Robert A. Flasch

Michigamme