Earlier this year, I was brought to Mercy Medical Center by ambulance with shortness of breath, back pain, and I had fainted at home causing injury to my face. Upon arrival in the Emergency Department, they weren't exactly sure what was going on with me, but they were working on it. Aimee Ojeda was the Rapid Response Nurse who happened to be in the Emergency Department. She saw my name on the patient board and came to check on me. She was rather shocked at how I presented and started to help "move things along" a little faster. At her insistence, a CT Angio of my chest and abdomen were done and as she had suspected, I had a dissecting thoracic aortic aneurysm. I was quickly airlifted to U.C. Davis Medical Center. I was taken directly into surgery once I arrived there. She took the initiative to contact my daughter in Texas. My daughters kept in touch with Aimee and Aimee kept everyone up to date on my condition. I spent 10 days at U.C. Davis, 4 of them on a ventilator.
If it had not been for Aimee's diligence in advocating for me, I feel I would not be here today. She never left my side to make sure I was okay. She still keeps an eye on me so I don't overdo it at work. Most people do not survive this kind of thing so I'm feeling really blessed to be given this second chance at life. Thank you, Aimee!