Admitted to Rosebud Hospital in late July, local Rye resident Len Harrison began what would be a four month stay while he received treatment and rehabilitation care for a serious infection.
In November, things were looking up for Len, recovery and discharge from hospital were just on the horizon, but then it took a turn for the worst.
Len suffered a heart attack.
For 39 minutes, a team of doctors and nurses performed chest compressions and rescue breaths to try and save his life while he lay unconscious, unaware of the number of people involved with saving his life.
Len was transferred to Rosebud Hospital’s onsite Emergency Department when his pulse made a return, where our team worked tirelessly to bring him back to consciousness. That’s when Len experienced his second heart attack.
Fortunately, our treating team identified two arteries connected to Len’s heart were blocked, and quickly put a plan in place to get him to Intensive Care at Frankston Hospital where he could receive lifesaving medication.
While Len doesn’t recall those frightful moments, he says he “couldn’t believe that [he] had suffered a heart attack.”
Len spent two weeks at Frankston Hospital before he returned to Rosebud Hospital on 2 December.
“It’s very handy having Rosebud Hospital close by,” says Len. “I was able to access care close to home before I experienced my heart attack.”
“Because Len had been with us for so long, it was a pleasant surprise to hear that he had made a recovery,” says Katrina, Nurse Unit Manager Hillview Ward.
“It was a real collaboration between Hillview and Emergency Department teams,” she adds. “I think the incident really highlighted the collaboration that Rosebud Hospital provides with care that you don’t see anywhere else.”
“Rosebud Hospital is friendly, the staff are very knowledgeable and informative, and they know when things are going on,” says Len.
With Len now back at Rosebud Hospital, he continues to undergo rehabilitation following his heart incident to gain more strength in his arms, with treating teams caring for him around the clock.
Like Len, Rosebud Hospital is the first stop for emergency care, life-saving treatments and ongoing rehabilitation for many people on the Mornington Peninsula. It is the health hub supporting the lives of countless individuals in our community. But to keep meeting the growing demands of our region, we need your support.
This summer, support Rosebud Hospital by taking on The FEB 50 Challenge, a fundraising activity that encourages you to walk, run or ride 50kms in the month of February while raising funds for Rosebud Hospital.
Sign up or donate to Rosebud Hospital at www.feb50challenge.org