Honorary chairman recognizes great experience at NCMC
GREELEY, Colo., (Nov. 21, 2008) — Greeley resident Dave Trussell says he doesn’t know what to expect from the North North Colorado Medical Center’s 11th annual Turkey Trot on Thursday. He’s never attended it before, let alone served as an official starter for a road race.
But then again, Trussell didn’t know what to expect from NCMC when he suffered a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital May 19 of this year. And he now calls that experience “miraculous.”
Last May, Trussell, the 2008 Turkey Trot Honorary Chairman, had just returned home from a speaking engagement and sat down at the computer to check his fantasy league baseball team. He started feeling sick and had trouble breathing, so he called for his wife, Micke. She quickly realized what was happening and dialed 911.
“The clock started,” Dave says, referring to the important window of time when prompt care is needed to reduce heart damage and complications. Including 11 minutes in the ambulance, it was 35 minutes from the time Micke called to when the cardiac care team had finished placing two stents in Dave’s arteries to improve blood flow.
“It was just unbelievable,” he says. “The only word I can think of is ‘privilege.’ I was privileged to experience a team like that.”
Dave points out that typically he can drive from his home to the hospital in 11 minutes. The important aspect here was that as the ambulance drove, calls were being made to NCMC’s heart care team to make sure they were present and ready for Dave when he arrived at the hospital.
“This changed my whole perspective,” Dave says. “I had no idea that NCMC was ranked as a Thomson Top 100 Hospital® for cardiovascular care. I knew it was big and that type of thing, but to be involved first person – it’s just a huge asset to this region and this community.”
So, when the cardiac rehabilitation program director asked Dave to serve as the race’s honorary chairman, he gladly accepted.
This year NCMC celebrates the 11th anniversary of the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot.
The 5K and Gobbler Trek race, which attracted 1,800 participants in 2007, benefits the NCMC Cardiac Rehabilitation program and the patients it serves.
Starting time for the 5k is 9 a.m. The 2K Gobbler Trek starts at 9:15 a.m. Parking for the events is available in the parking garage at NCMC. The race begins in the parking lot on the southeast corner of the NCMC campus.
Turkey Trot statistics:
• Proceeds from the race have benefited about 180 patients who were uninsured or underinsured by covering costs of cardiac rehabilitation.
• Last year, the Turkey Trot and Gobbler Trek raised more than $22,000. Participation has doubled in the last four years from 1,000 in 2003 to 2,000 in 2006. About 1,800 participated in 2008.
• For more information or to register for the race, visit www.bannerhealth.com, keyword: NCMC Turkey Trot.
ABOUT NORTH COLORADO MEDICAL CENTER
North Colorado Medical Center is a fully accredited, private, nonprofit facility licensed to operate 398 beds. It serves as a regional medical center with community-based and specialty services ito residents in southern Wyoming, western Nebraska, western Kansas and northeastern Colorado. .
ABOUT BANNER HEALTH
Based in Phoenix, Banner Health is one of the largest, nonprofit health care systems in the country. Banner has 22 facilities that offer an array of services including hospital care, home care, hospice care, nursing registries, surgery centers, laboratories, rehabilitation services. These facilities are located in seven states - Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, and Wyoming.
