Nancy Kurpaitis awoke from a sound sleep at 1 am Monday, November 4, 2024, feeling sicker than she had in 71 years of life. The wave of symptoms included feeling faint, extremely warm, short of breath and with her heart racing.
“I never felt like that in my life,” the Florence, Illinois, resident said.
Nancy would learn she had a slow bleed in her lower gastrointestinal tract throughout 2024.
But besides having less energy than usual, Nancy had felt no other symptoms until, after 11 months, so much blood had been lost that she was dying.
For the first time in 12 years, Nancy needed hospital care and was scared. Following is her description of the experience:
“I had to be brought to the Illini Community Hospital emergency room by ambulance and had the most amazing service. The team was gentle with me as I was feeling horrible and not sure what was wrong with me. I was really scared when the Illini team told me I needed to go to Blessing Hospital. I had never been there. That was the shortest, but longest ride in an ambulance.
I now realize I had no reason to be scared or concerned. Dr. O (Milton Ochieng, gastroenterologist) let me know I was having a GI bleed and my blood counts were extremely low. I needed to have surgery. Along with surgery by Dr. O, Dr. Philippe Nyembo (hospitalist) continued to have labs done to find out how to make me better. They did just that. I couldn’t believe the progress I made at Blessing Hospital. I came in, apparently near dead unbeknownst to me, on a Monday afternoon and five days later I walked out the front door on my own steam.
The staff on the 3rd floor treated me like a queen. A nurse leader rounded on me. I know she was busy but she took the time to sit down with me. I spent so much time talking to her but she cared enough to listen to me which meant a lot.
The frontline staff was beautiful, but I know there are dozens of staff behind the scenes that made sure my care was so good. I know someone was handling my labs with care and even the person answering the phone when I ordered my meals was so happy and nice to me. I loved that food so much! In fact, Dr. O was nervous to tell me I had to stay a day longer to get an iron infusion but I was happy to stay for another dinner meal!
Everyone at Blessing Health is like a spoke in the wheel. If one of the spokes is missing, the wheel doesn’t run right. Every person there has a job to do, and as far as I am concerned, every person there did fantastic. Thank you to everyone.
I am home and feeling better. I have returned to volunteering at the animal shelter in Pittsfield. This would not be possible without the care I received. I love following up with Sherri White at Illini. She is the best.
I now realize no matter where I end up at Blessing Health, I am in the best hands of care.”
In the photo: Missy, currently living at the Pike County (Illinois) Animal Shelter, is glad to have shelter volunteer Nancy Kurpaitis back on the job after Nancy received life-saving care from Illini and Blessing Hospitals.