On September 9, 2014, Chestertown resident Jim Twohy arrived at UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown with symptoms of a stroke and was unable to speak.
With his December, 2015 donation, Mr. Twohy included a note asking that his gift be acknowledged to “The medical team that gave me TPA after my stroke on 9/9/14 and saved my life.” When asked if he would like to meet the team who cared for him and present them with an Everyday Hero pin, he jumped at the chance. “I would love that!”
On Friday morning, the nurses and doctor who cared for Mr. Twohy “had a chance we don’t often get,” said Jenn Nutley, manager, Emergency Services. “We almost never get to see a patient who has healed after a life-threatening medical situation and you have no idea how much it means to all of us that you took time out of your day to visit and say ‘thank you’.”
It took about a second for Mr. Twohy to look at Robert Desverreaux, MD and say, “I remember you and it is an honor to meet you again! Thank you!” Hugs and handshakes abounded.
Inquiring about Mr. Twohy’s dog, about which he was hugely concerned during his ED visit, Victoria Spray, RN, said, “I remember you couldn’t speak very well but you were able to write us notes.”
Mr. Twohy was treated to a tour of the new Emergency Department, which he had never seen as he was treated in the temporary space during the construction of the new department.
The Everyday Hero Program provides patients and their family members an opportunity to thank a University of Maryland Shore Regional Health physician, employee or volunteer by making a financial donation to UM Chester River Foundation or UM Memorial Hospital Foundation or the in his or her name. For more information about the program in Chestertown, call 410-810-5660; for Dorchester and Easton, call 410-822-1000, ext. 5481,
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