As Ski Patrol, we often don’t see the how our patients fare after our treatment. Today was different.
At Saturday's year-end Patrol party, a guy walks up and introduces himself. Paul tells me that just 3 weeks ago he had a heart attack at the top of the Summit Chair. He tells me about the patrol men & women who quickly jumped in providing initial treatment, gave him the fastest toboggan ride of his life down the mountain, and stuffed him in an ambulance for a full lights-and-siren ride to the hospital. Paul told me he arrested/coded during the hospital treatment before the team there was able to stabilize him. But, he quickly recovered and was released to home a few days later.
He’d come back to the mountain to say thanks. I found some of the patrollers who were on duty that day and had helped in the case. Paul offered a big handshake, hug, and thanks. His wife, Laura, skipped the handshake and went straight for the hug & heartfelt thanks. It was a touching moment.
Paul and Laura stayed around for an hour or so, meeting & trading stories with many of the Patrol team. Good times. Paul tells us he’s now beginning his cardiac rehabilitation with ECG-monitored treadmill walks, etc. We wish him well.
Some of our cases don’t turn out so well, but in this case it did. Life saved. A big congrats and thanks to the patrollers who helped on this case and handled it with complete professionalism. Job well done.
