Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 1, 2020

6 By Andrea Nagel People describe Bert Thoreson as a doer—a kind, giving man who doesn’t mind being behind the scenes. A longtime employee of the Lakeland School District, he’s known for his work ethic and dedication. His wife, Kerri, describes him as quiet and private and one of the most compassionate people she’s ever known. “We complement each other perfectly,” Kerri said. “I’m outgoing and put myself out there, and he brings me back down to earth. He is my other half.” So when Bert needed open heart surgery just one year after receiving a stent, Kerri was blindsided. Home to thehospital “I started experiencing similar symptoms to my last incident, like fatigue and pain in my left arm,” Bert explained. “I was at work one day and the symptoms got worse. For the first time ever, I left work early and went home.” Bert returned home, lethargic and not well. Kerri noticed he wasn’t quite himself and insisted on going to the hospital. “Bert had never missed a day of work or left early for illness before, so I knew something was really wrong,” she said. “He didn’t argue with me when I said we should go to the hospital. I like to joke that he listened to his body and his wife, and that saved him.” Once at the emergency department, Bert was quickly evaluated. An angiogram determined that he had three blocked arteries and would require bypass surgery. “My first reaction was, ‘This isn’t Thanks to expert heart care, the Thoresons look forward to many more anniversaries supposed to happen,’” he recalled. “I thought the worst case scenario would be another stent, and then I could go back to life and work in a few days. I wasn’t expecting open heart surgery.” “We were both shocked—I had a hard time processing what was happening,” Kerri said. “Our EFR LI OF SWEETHEARTS Thirty-six hours after his surgery, Bert Thoreson was in good spirits in Kootenai Health’s Critical Care Unit. Bert Thoreson has been an active member of the Post Falls Lions Club for over 20 years. He enjoys volunteering for events like the Lions Mother’s Day breakfast at the Post Falls Senior Center.