When Michael (Mike) Plover came to Methodist Hospital Stone Oak, he expected to receive care for a hematoma in his left leg following hip surgery. He had been admitted for a blood transfusion and was taken to the fifth floor. What happened next is something he only knows through the words of his wife and the care team, as Mike does not remember the emergency that nearly took his life.
While he was in his room, Mike asked a nurse for a glass of water. When she returned, she immediately noticed something was wrong. She called for help, and within moments, the team rushed in and began life-saving measures, including CPR.
Mike later learned he had been without a pulse for several minutes.
“They said I was dead for about six to 10 minutes,” Mike shared. “They brought me back.”
When Mike woke up, he was in pain from a broken sternum, a result of the CPR that saved his life. But even through the discomfort and the uncertainty of recovery, what stood out most to him was the kindness of the people around him.
“All of the nurses and everybody, even the people who came in cleaning the room, they were very kind and courteous,” he said. “They made sure I was okay.”
After his recovery, Mike knew he wanted to do more than send a card. He wanted to return to the fifth floor, look the team in the eyes and thank them personally.
“My wife made cookies and brought them up there,” he said. “That was her way of saying thank you.”
For Mike, the visit was deeply personal. He shook hands, received hugs, shared tears and spoke from the heart to the people who helped save his life.
“I told them, ‘This is a thankless job that y’all do, and I want to thank you for what you do,’” he said. “Had it not been for y’all, I wouldn’t be here.”
One team member hugged him and thanked him for coming back to share those words. Mike understood how much that kind of gratitude can mean. Before retiring, he spent 18 years as a drug and alcohol counselor at the VA, helping veterans facing PTSD, addiction, suicide risk and other challenges.
“I know what it’s like to work hard all day, giving back, giving back, giving back, and not always getting that thank you,” he said.
That is why returning to the hospital mattered so much to him.
“It was very meaningful to me, and I could see that it was meaningful to them,” Mike said. “I wanted them to know, from my heart to theirs, thank you. God bless you. I love you.”
For the care team at Methodist Hospital Stone Oak, Mike’s visit was a powerful reminder of why they do what they do every day. And for Mike, it was a chance to honor the people who gave him more time with the people he loves.
“You kept me alive,” he said. “Had it not been for y’all, I wouldn’t be here.”