To: Stephanie Fugate CICU, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
From: Stephan F. Spencer - Greenwood, Indiana

Dear Stephanie,

We met the evening of November 2nd, 2006 in the CICU. I was a 60 year old patient of Dr. Gosta Pettersson who had come to the Clinic to get a second chance at life; you were an angel who along with Shirley took care of me most of the night.

I was born with a bicuspid aortic valve, active in sports and active in life. I found out I had a problem in March 2006 and Richard Schule, former director of the sterilization department, referred me to Cathy Kieler and Cathy had set up an appointment with Dr. Sola. By September 2006 my valve had narrowed to 10 mm and I had a 5cm aneurysm on my ascending aorta, not a great combination of defects. Dr. Sola examined me and kindly explained by predicament. I was introduced to Dr. Pettersson who explained the repairs I needed and surgery was scheduled for November 2nd.

The interim time gives a patient time to think about life, family, faith and beyond. I had complete faith in Dr. Pettersson who answered my questions, " So how many of these procedures have you done, is it hard, what will I be like after surgery, etc..etc.." Of course I had the greatest sense of peace that Cathy had chosen Dr. Pettersson when Dr. Pettersson informed me he probably had replaced more aortic valves than any other surgeon and smiled broadly when I asked, "So how is your experience with aneurysms?" He laughed and drew a picture of the graph and how it would look, including stitches, on the heart diagram I was given in my handout information.

My experience in surgery was again unique. I have worked for 34 years in the medical device industry, originally with American Hospital Supply Corporation and I own an orthopedic device company so I'm no stranger to the operating room. Everyone seemed so happy and the chief OR nurse was giving Dr. Flynn a hard time for his deep brogue while they were setting up the instruments. This cheerful nurse came over to me and said, "So how are you feeling?" I responded "So, is this surgery really successful?" And like a cheerleader she said, "Oh, we love this surgery, we just did one yesterday, you're doing great!"

The next thing you know, I'm incubated in CICU, the worst six hours of my stay at CC, but I was lucky and had my tube removed about 6pm. The rest of the evening was about what you would expect for a lucky patient; not much sleep, lots of attention, beeping monitors and Shirley and you constantly checking up on my vital signs and how I felt.

So now I get to the point of the story. I have three children and nine grandchildren and a wife I've been married to for more than 40 years. I am a lucky man, I've tried to live a good life, and I've tried to be a good person. I own several businesses which have kept me from my family too much, something I promised I would change if I got a second chance to share my successes instead of just trying to build more success.

And here is where you come in…As I was being transferred from CICU to my room the morning of the 3rd, you leaned over my bed and whispered in my ear, " Mr. Spencer, I hope I never see you again." Wow, for a guy with a second chance, no one could have said anything more meaningful, more considerate or more encouraging after a night of pondering both my mortality and eternity.

After I returned to work, Chad Gobel was kind enough to visit with me and listen to my story, He talked about opportunities I had to support Dr. Pettersson's research and I immediately pledged one million dollars which has already resulted in advances in open heart surgery, specifically valve replacement. I had dinner with Chad and Dr. and Mrs. Pettersson November 6th when I returned for my annual check-up with Dr. Sola and told them the "Stephanie" story. Of course it was Cathy Kieler (How does she do all she does?) who gave me your name the next day.

So Stephanie I do plan to see you on one of my return trips but not as a patient. As we celebrate God's love for all of us this holiday season, I want to thank you for the gift of your words and all they meant and still mean to me this day. Please say hello to Shirley for me and I hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas and joyous New Year.

Warmest regards,

Stephan F. Spencer