Editor:

As a person who eats a healthy diet and runs marathons, I was surprised recently to find myself in an ambulance being rushed to Centra Southside Community Hospital. I was in very critical condition. I am now home and while I still have some challenges ahead I wanted to write to give effusive praise to our local hospital.

Having never been admitted to a hospital, I did not know what to expect. I was in the hospital for nine days and I can say with some authority that the level of care at this hospital is outstanding from top to bottom. From the emergency room physicians and nurses who stabilized me to the endless series of CNAs and nurses who attended to me during my stay, everyone was uniformly friendly, encouraging and on top of their game. Gabby the legendary housekeeper and Keith the transport man went out of their way to visit me often and keep my spirits up. My dear friend and neighbor Kerry Mossler (who leads the hospital’s marketing team) looked over me as if I was a family member.

I want to make special mention of the hospital’s nephrology team: doctors Atul Bali, Abutaleb Ejaz and Charles Brooks are extremely talented, with backgrounds at the University of Virginia and the Mayo Clinic. It was these men who were able to diagnose me with a very rare kidney condition and determine the correct course of action.

Do your best to support our hospital. If I didn’t live two blocks away from this local treasure, I would probably not be writing this letter.

Chuck Ross

Farmville