When Kate Klose woke up at her Los Alamos home after sleeping 12 hours straight, she didn’t expect the pounding headache or understand the severe pain in her gut.
The 69-year-old retired filmmaker, educator and musician had just returned with her husband from a two-week vacation to visit family in Long Island and upstate New York.
“When I got up to shower, the pain started increasing gradually from a 2 to a 7 by the time we arrived at our local hospital,” said Kate. “I had no idea what was causing it, but I started to get a feeling, a very strong sense that my life was in danger.”
The physician in the emergency department examined Kate, conducted tests and offered pain management. He said that her condition was very severe, so she couldn’t go home or stay at the hospital because they could not provide the required treatment.
Fortunately for Kate, the doctor was able to get in touch with Dr. David Hoang, the lead emergency general surgeon at Lovelace Medical Center.
Flight to Albuquerque
With Kate’s condition critical, the hospital ordered that she go the 95 miles to Albuquerque by air transport.
“The ambulance from Los Alamos Fire Department Company #4 came to collect me at the emergency room, bringing along a four to five-person medical crew. Everyone to this point was brilliant, professional and compassionate. I am so grateful for everyone in Los Alamos and their excellent management of my baffling situation,” she said.
“As the ambulance pulled away, I remember clearly looking back and seeing my husband standing there, looking concerned and worriedly waving. I suddenly realized that I might not see him again, but I wasn't worried. I was extremely calm, which speaks as much to my trust in all the competent professionals as it does to my faith.”
