Mike Gruber is our Citizen of the Day, Week, Month & Year

By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press

Today's Thought: "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV).

Until Saturday, May 30, I had never heard of Mike Gruber, much less knew him personally.

That all changed very quickly around noon May 30. I had had a rather mild (I thought at the time) medical issue the day before while mowing grass in our front yard. But after some rest, I felt fine, had a decent night's sleep, and woke up Saturday morning with the intent to trim Asian (autumn) olive shrub limbs – an invasive species, by the way – along our property at the township roadside.

After about 90 minutes, I told myself to take it easy after trimming just one more (jus' one more! where have I seen that before?) Asian olive shrub.

Suddenly and without notice, I dropped to the road. I was probably out for 5 or 10 seconds before rolling over to my property, where I sat up without further movement. I may have sat there for 10 minutes without moving, just inhaling and exhaling in an attempt to regain mobility.

A truck passed by. I didn't flinch. My ball cap was still on the road. A minute or so went by and the truck stopped at the intersection and began backing up. 

Mike Gruber was the driver. He stopped; gave me a much-needed bottle of cold water, and sat down beside me. I thanked him and said I could make it home, but he insisted on driving me. Probably a wise move.

After Mike delivered me to my front door, my better half – who's been an RN for the last 39 years – insisted we go to Urgent Care, all the while telling me that I would end up at Bethesda North Hospital. Pam was right, of course.

The kind folks at Urgent Care quickly sent me to Highland District Hospital's Emergency Room, where Dr. Jody Anderson informed me that I would be transported by ambulance to – you guessed it – Bethesda North Hospital.

Five days later – and thanks to exceptional patient care at Urgent Care in Hillsboro, Highland District Hospital and Bethesda North Hospital – I returned home. The first thing I said to Pam as we approached our driveway was, "Looks like the Asian olive shrubs have been trimmed up real nice, and we can see to turn out of our driveway now."

She was not impressed.

While at Bethesda North Hospital, I was told I had a life-threatening heart condition after dropping from basically minimal physical exertion on May 29 and May 30. I was further told that I should not leave the hospital until a procedure could be scheduled to correct my condition. As much as I wanted to go home, I heeded the doctors' advice and stuck it out. 

And man, was I stuck. At least 50 times, maybe more. No problem. They did what they needed to do to keep this old sinner alive.

In the past week:
 
• I had my first-ever ambulance ride (we had a fire on the way from HDH to B-North, but that's another story);

• I had my first overnight hospital stay – and my first five straight days in the hospital;

• I had my first body shaving from parts unmentionable northward – enough said;

• And I lost all semblance of personal humility among total strangers – truly enough said.

If I'd been able to hold off just one more month, Medicare would have been on the hook for my considerable hospital expenses. It just wasn't meant to be. 

For all those at HDH and Bethesda North who took great care of me, I am truly appreciative. Many thanks, also, for the prayers sent my way by Fr. Mike Paraniuk and many others.

And to Mike Gruber, like my son-in-law, Stephen Forsha, four years ago, you most likely saved my life.

I think Pam appreciates that. I know I do.

God bless.

Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press.