Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 1, 2020

KH . ORG 7 Put your heart in good hands To learn more about heart services at Kootenai Health, visit KH.org/heart or call Kootenai Heart Clinics at (208) 625-5250 . Kerri Thoreson is a columnist for the Coeur d’Alene Press and a Post Falls City Council member. You can read her work at cdapress.com/columns/kerri-thoreson . 33 rd anniversary was coming up, and I remember at one point Bert apologized because he wouldn’t be home to celebrate. I looked at him and said, ‘Are you kidding? If you weren’t here now, we may never celebrate another anniversary together.’” Amodel patient Before he could undergo surgery, Bert had to spend a few days in the hospital while his blood thinner medication gradually worked its way out of his system. He spent his days visiting with family and friends and watching the hospital’s in-room informational videos. He waited eagerly to get through the procedure and be on the road to recovery. “Bert was a model patient, and we expected him to do very well with the procedure,” said Bert’s cardiothoracic surgeon, Robert Burnett, M.D., with Kootenai Heart Clinics Cardiovascular Surgery. “Fortunately he came back when his symptoms recurred, rather than postponing it. The difference between an open but narrowed artery and a closed artery can be significant—in both recovery from the procedure and preservation of overall heart function. Bert had recurrent narrowing at his stent, which is actually relatively uncommon but not unheard of. Most patients with stents do very well; however, any change in symptoms after a stent should be evaluated by the cardiology team as soon as possible.” Genuinekindness Both Bert and Kerri recalled the kindness of staff and their care team throughout the process. Bert appreciated the detailed communication each day regarding his care plan and frequent visits from Dr. Burnett. “I think what I appreciated most, aside from the wonderful care that Bert received, was the genuine kindness shown by every staff member I came across,” Kerri said. “I was experiencing some of the most stressful and scary days of my life, and everyone was just so compassionate and accommodating. They cared for me just as much as they cared for Bert.” “I am grateful for the experience I had at Kootenai,” Bert said. “No matter what was going on, every nurse I had, every person who checked on me made me feel like I was the only patient they had. That’s an experience I don’t think I’d have anywhere else.” Best dayever During the month after his surgery, Bert was gradually able to go about his normal daily activities. He was eager to get back to working on his lawn, riding his motorcycle, kayaking and continuing his community involvement. Now that he’s back to doing the things he loves, Bert finally feels like life is back to normal again. “In August we decided to be tourists in our own town and went parasailing for the first time on Lake Coeur d’Alene,” Kerri said. “I remember looking at Bert, so healthy with the panorama of the lake and the mountains behind us, and thinking back to when he was on a ventilator in the hospital. I never would have thought that just six months later we’d be doing this. For me, it was the best day ever.” Just one month after Bert’s surgery, Kerri and Bert Thoreson walked around Falls Park in Post Falls, Idaho. Robert Burnett, M.D. Cardiothoracic Surgeon