Happy stories the result of teamwork
Sure, I have an ego and therefore reading Judie Hoeppner’s letter (TGI, Nov. 29) thanking me and our Wilcox Hospital team made me happy. Of course, what made me happiest is that Rich Hoeppner had a good outcome. With his permanent pacemaker in place and ticking away he should get to enjoy many good years ahead.
However, credit needs to go where credit is due. It was actually internist Dr. Rosenthal and cardiologist Dr. Funai who with their great skills inserted the life-saving temporary pacemaker, while I and nurses Mark Walsh and Ana Cayabyab were juggling medications that can help in this type of critical situation.
Winning as an individual is fun and having my name singled out was fun. But in my experience, winning as a team is much more rewarding. There are many things to celebrate with the Hoeppners this holiday season. First, of course, is Rich’s great outcome.
Then, we have his astute and caring Sun Village neighbors Lucy and J.C.
Then, there’s our terrific Wilcox Hospital team of nurses, clerks, doctors, and administrators who keep us properly equipped.
And here’s to our highly skilled paramedics and air ambulance crew, they keep our patients safe while they’re in transit.
And finally, there are the intensivists and tertiary-level specialists on Oahu — in this particular case at Straub Hospital but often at Queens, Kapiolani, and Pali Momi — who have the subspecialty facilities and skills to tie these types of critical cases all together.
We will have some tough stories this holiday season, which is all the more reason to savor the happy stories and the teamwork that can lead to these happy stories.
Monty Downs, M.D., Wilcox Hospital ER
