Patsy Stockdale recovering

November 30, 2011

According to ambulance personnel, everything went right when the call came in Monday evening that a Bonners Ferry resident needed assistance for a possible heart attack. The person, indeed, had experienced a heart attack. Fortunately, a volunteer crew assembled in quick time and assistance arrived at the victim's home within moments to administer life-saving treatment and sprint her away to the hospital. It was one of those calls every EMT who's ever served as a member of Boundary Volunteer Ambulance loves and dreads; they were there in time to matter and the outcome gives the promise of a full recovery ... a save ... but their patient was a woman known and cherished by each EMT who responded, kin in some cases. Nothing is harder in such a time than setting aside personal feelings and concern and flawlessly performing the many tasks that must be done in such a critical time. And the process follows at Boundary Community Hospital, where nearly every doctor, nurse and staff members either knows or knows of the patient brought through their doors. In the case of Patsy Stockdale, professionalism and angst combined; she was a patient, like any other, but, oh, so much more. Nothing changed in the treatment; all patients get the same top-notch, professional care. In her case, it was the shock of knowing her as a friend, a Mom ... a community icon. "This job would be much easier if I could move to a place where I didn't know anybody," said ambulance chief Ken Baker. While many hearts get wrenched later, first responders hearts are often ripped apart at the outset, and they aren't allowed the privilege to mourn ... they have work to do. In Patsy's case, the work acknowledged in grateful fashion just why they work so hard, every time, every call. Mom will be released tomorrow from Kootenai Medical Center after having a heart attack," her daughter, Edna Runyan, said. "Thank you for your prayers. We are in need if a stationary bike if anyone has one. "She is doing well ... thanks to God." In the wake of those words, Patsy now has a stationary bike ... just happened to belong to a neighbor who couldn't sell the thing to get it off the front porch who never imagined that it might one day extend the life of a friend. The hard part now is going to be making Patsy use it. That woman has worked so tremendously hard on both our behalf and for her family, she's going to have a tough time agreeing that there comes a time when it's okay ... necessary ... to take care of herself. It's going to be hard for her to accept that she has a community so grateful and eager to say, "Thank you."