A Guardian Angel in Scrubs
12/13/2024
In a touching display of gratitude, a patient recently gave a thoughtful gift to the nurse who played a pivotal role in saving his life. The gift is a symbol of deep appreciation and highlights the unspoken bond that forms between patients and healthcare professionals during moments of crisis.
It was a regular afternoon on August 26th when Robert Partridge decided to take a trip to Walmart in Newberry. During his visit, he collapsed suddenly due to having a heart attack. Susan Kinard, a nurse at Newberry Hospital who just so happened to be behind him, immediately jumped into action. She performed CPR on Partridge and called 911 immediately. Partridge says that if Kinard had not been there at that exact moment, he doesn’t know what would have happened.
After his therapy visit on December 11th, Partridge made a special walk over to the hospital to visit Kinard. Partridge was determined to do something special for her to show his gratitude, and this would be the first time he actually met Kinard, as he doesn’t remember anything after collapsing at Walmart. He dressed up as Santa Claus and surprised her with a Guardian Angel pendant to express his sincere gratitude for her instrumental role in saving his life. In a thank you letter that Partridge wrote to Kinard, he stated, “Without a guardian angel like you I would not be here to celebrate this Christmas season. Thank you for being exactly where you needed to be at the right time. You’ll always be my guardian angel. You have a deep down goodness in you that comes through in your actions, and saying thank you doesn’t seem to cover it. You are a blessing to me and I am truly grateful for you.”
Partridge has been working with our Cardiac Rehab team on his recovery over the past several months. “They’re wonderful, and the sweetest ladies I could ever ask for. They’re considered angels too. Because I put them through a lot!” Partdrige says, jokingly. “One thing I’ve learned after this experience is that you can’t take things so seriously, and enjoy yourself as you go.”
The bond between Partridge, Kinard and the Cardiac Rehab Team is truly a special one. It is a beautiful reminder that, sometimes, the greatest rewards for healthcare professionals are not found in the accolades or recognition, but in the lives they touch and the hearts they heal.