Lewis thankful blood was there ready to useby Mary Le Arneal Jim and Penny Lewis have lived in North Bend for 48 years. They recently developed a new admiration for those in the community who donate blood.
North Bend area residents will have an opportunity to donate blood to help others Dec. 20, from noon to 6 p.m. at the North Bend City Auditorium. “I knew I had a hernia since I had my children,” Penny said. Penny was sent home with pain medications. After an appointment with her primary doctor, Dr. Robert Drovl, he made an appointment with a surgeon, Dr. Robert Zadalis, that same day. Zadalis had a cancellation the next day so the surgery was scheduled for then. The Lewises were fine with that. On Sept. 15 her hernia was repaired with Dr. Thomas White the surgeon. Penny spent the night in the hospital and was dismissed the next day. Penny was instructed to take it easy – no lifting – instructions she readily followed. She took a nap and woke up with stomach pains, like she’d had before. She began having diarrhea and vomiting black liquid. Jim called the North Bend Rescue Squad, and they were there in short time. Penny was taken to the Fremont hospital where she was stabilized before being sent to Immanuel. At Immanuel, Penny was given six units of blood and scheduled for an upper G.I. exam that showed a large ulcer in the upper bowel. She had been given medication and the bleeding had stopped, so the doctors hoped that the ulcer would be healed with medication. With their children, Jim and Kathy Lewis of North Bend, Lesa and Jim Miller and Lynora Carr of Iowa, at the hospital, Jim went home to rest, but ended up turning around and headed back to the hospital.
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