Thanksgiving Thoughts

Sorry, I've been MIA from posting for a while.  But here's a nice seasonal message from the family of one of our IRC patients.


Sep. 29, 2011

Letter to the community from Frank and Lorraine Brimlow

When we got a phone call that our son had been in a terrible accident in the Oregon mountains thousands of miles from home, we were filled with fear and anxiety. We boarded a plane to the unknown [from New York]. How badly was he hurt? Would we get there on time? What kind of medical treatment was available? How would we be treated?

What we found was a very modern hospital one would only expect to see in a big city. More important, we met a very professional and caring staff. Our son Eric was clinging to life. The ICU doctors and nurses were the best. There were days he was doing so badly they didn’t leave his side. Minute by minute it was touch and go. They saved his life.

When he got out of ICU, Eric went through weeks of intense therapy to help him regain independence. We found the same level of caring and skill with the doctors, therapists and staff. Thanks to them, Eric can go home.

There are so many people to thank. We want all the people in the hospital to know how much we appreciate their professionalism and their hearts. Everyone from doctors to nurses, cafeteria, housekeeping, the palliative care staff, and therapists; they have all gone out of their way to take care of Eric and make us feel comfortable.

We have been in Rogue Valley Medical Center day and night, staying at Eric’s side, and the people here have gotten to know us. They are genuinely happy to see us; they ask us how we are doing, they really listen to our answers. They go beyond being professional; they truly care. Everyone in the Rogue Valley is lucky to have a hospital like this.

We also thank Eric’s rescuers. If not for the skill and determination of the 49 people who brought him out of the crater and flew him to safety, Eric would not be alive today.

And finally, we thank the community. The people of the Rogue Valley have treated us with hospitality and kindness we will never forget. We thank everyone at Sacred Heart Church and from every other faith who prayed for Eric and for us. You sustained us. We were able to stay at the Cheney House, which was built by the community and is operated by volunteers. What a gift Cheney House is. Without it, we would not have been able to stay here in Medford while Eric was in the hospital.

We are happy now that we can take Eric home where he can continue his recovery, but we will always be thankful for the people we met and the people who cared for him here in the Rogue Valley.

Frank and Lorraine Brimlow
Worcester, New York