WMH Stories

Why should you fight for
Westfield Memorial Hospital?

Just ask them.

Charles & Tina’s Story
Words cannot express our gratitude and dedication towards the medical staff, medical services, clerical staff, outpatient services, etc. at Westfield Memorial Hospital. Please note that we are located within 10 miles of a full service hospital, but for 15+ years we have chosen WMH for all of our medical needs from blood work, x-ray services, mammography, ER services, and maternity! We choose Westfield Memorial Hospital, regardless if it’s over thirty miles from our home!

Thirteen years ago, we were expecting the birth of our first child. We had the pleasure of doctoring with the finest staff of doctors at Family Health Services in Mayville. NY. The pregnancy was completely healthy and normal -- at 33 weeks gestation I had a spontaneous rupture of membranes and went into labor. We were directed to get to the hospital where we were met by the finest doctor, Dr. Robert Berke. He and the maternity staff prepared for a preterm delivery and had Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo on call if there were any complications. Throughout the evening our labor and delivery went without problem, the staff was very informative, attentive, caring, and compassionate. Upon delivery, our son was born at 4 lbs. 14 oz. with underdeveloped lungs. Dr. Berke and staff incubated and stabilized him until Mercy Flight arrived with the medical staff of Women’s and Children’s.

Without the knowledge of WMH, our son would not be here today!

Beebe Ann’s Story:
In March 2007, our local ambulance volunteers took me to WMH after being stricken by an acute stroke caused by atrial fibrillation. The ER professionals removed a three inch long blood clot from my brain with the guidance of a stroke alert team doctor and an interventional neurologist. They stabilized me and flew me to the stroke team.

I left the hospital in seven days, tired but feeling good – not a vegetable and not in a coma at a nursing home. I made it home to be a happy, productive member of my family and community.

I was in God’s hands, as was all those who helped me. May your decision be profound and positive to keep Westfield Memorial Hospital’s ER open to help future patients on any day and at any hour.

Roderick’s Story:
My story is that of a single individual. The early morning of September 10th, the doctors and nurses at the Westfield Memorial Hospital Emergency Room saved my life. If that ER had not been there then, I would not be here now. It’s that simple.

I am writing to show my support for Westfield Memorial Hospital. I know how important the hospital is to our community, with nearly 65% of residents counting on WMH for ER services. WMH provides critical care to many of the underserved in our community including the elderly, low income, Amish, and nursing home residents. It gives me peace of mind to know that WHM is there to serve our community in the warmer months, when many tourists visit our area – as well as in the winter when traveling to other hospitals is often impossible, given the annual average snowfall in our region of 250 inches.

I know that WMH saves lives – It saved mine!

Donna’s Story
If Westfield Memorial Hospital had not been eight miles from my home, I could have lost my husband two years ago. He would have NEVER made it by ambulance 30-35 miles away in either direction – Erie, Dunkirk, nor Jamestown. Thank God for Westfield’s ER.

Come on people - wake up to what we have! Just because you haven’t needed this hospital – you will someday and wish you had only eight miles, not 30-35, to go.

Get state government to keep this hospital open. Think of all the women in labor, heart attack and car accident victims who are stabilized at Westfield before being transported anywhere else.

Think of all the communities around Westfield that depend on this ER!

Joan’s Story
My 90 year-old mother is a resident at Absolut Care of Westfield. On the morning of September 11, 2009, she fell and required transportation to the WMH emergency room. There, she was examined, x-rayed and diagnosed with a broken bone in her pelvis. Because she was in terrible pain, a trip to Dunkirk or Jamestown would have been agonizingly long for her.

How comforting and efficient for her and for me, to have her taken to the upstairs in the hospital for the care and pain management she needed until she was able to return to Absolut. With Absolut one block away from WMH, the need for keeping the emergency room open seems paramount.

Kimberly’s Story
On March 25, 2009, I had been released from St. Vincent’s Health Care Center in Erie, PA after being treated for a low blood count and uncontrolled clotting in my uterus. Things appeared to return back to normal until the 28th, when I woke up and immediately began vomiting blood. I was rushed to the ER at Westfield Memorial Hospital, where they called Star Flight to take me to St. Vincent’s. If the ER had not been in Westfield, I would not have made it to see my 43rd birthday. Even driving with a lead foot or calling the Westfield Fire Department to take me to Brooks Memorial in Dunkirk, or WCA Hospital in Jamestown, would not have gotten me there fast enough to save my life. I credit Westfield for having the best and most caring staff. They are thorough and it doesn’t take house to get in to see a doctor for any problem in the ER. Thank you WMH for the ongoing great service of everyone.

Chuck, Tina, Cole and Cooper
We are writing to show you our support of Westfield Memorial Hospital (WMH). Words cannot express our gratitude and dedication to the medical staff, medical services, clerical staff, outpatient services, etc. Please note, we are located within 10 miles of a full service hospital, but for 15-plus years we have chosen WMH for all our medical needs, from blood work, x-ray services, and mammography, to ER services and maternity! Although it is more than 30 miles from our home we still choose WMH!!

Thirteen years ago, when we were expecting the birth of our first child, we had the pleasure of dealing with the finest staff of doctors at Family Health Services in Mayville, NY. The pregnancy was completely healthy and normal, but 33 weeks into my pregnancy, I experienced spontaneous membrane rupture and went into labor. Upon contacting our doctor, we were directed to go to the hospital. Once there, we were met by Dr. Robert Berke, and his maternity staff. They prepared for a pre-term delivery, and had Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo on call if case there were any complications.

Throughout the evening, our labor and delivery went on without further problems. The staff was informative, attentive, caring and compassionate. Our premature son was born at 4 lbs. 14 oz. with underdeveloped lungs. Without the knowledge and care from WMH’s wonderful Dr. Berke and staff, our son would not be here today! They were able to intubate our son and him stable until Mercy Flight arrived with the medical staff from Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo.

Approximately two years later we chose to deliver our second child at WMH, another premature delivery but without the severe complications. We still received amazing services and the utmost compassion.

WE CHOOSE Westfield Memorial Hospital for all our medical needs. We have driven there for emergency and non-life threatening medical treatments. When my father (who lives within 10 miles of a full service hospital) was experiencing early heart attack symptoms, WE CHOSE Westfield Memorial Hospital. I will leave it at that, as that is my father’s story to tell, but I was there with him. Once again, the knowledge of Dr. Berke and the medical staff at Westfield Memorial Hospital were able to care for us.

I must also mention that where else can you go and receive such personalized care from the front desk staff, who we have seen there since our first visit? Every time I walk through the doors, the ladies at the front desk treat everyone like family, It seems as if they know all of their patients, young and old! How comforting it is to be treated with respect and kindness upon entering a hospital. You are not a number at WMH, you are an individual who is truly cared for!

Without WMH we may not have two of the most important people in our lives today. So as you decide whether to keep Westfield Memorial Hospital operating as is, or to cut its services again, please think of our stories! Please do not put our local community in jeopardy. If even the people who live quite a distance away are willing to drive to receive the wonderful treatment WMH has to offer, what will happen to those who live in the communities surrounding the hospital?

For the miracle of our son’s birth, and for the other wonderful services offered by Westfield Memorial Hospital, we support maintaining the hospital as is. Thank you for taking the time to hear our reasons for fighting cuts to WMH.

Mildred's Story
Mildred had been experiencing abdominal pain for a good portion of the day. When the pain began to worsen, she was taken to Westfield Memorial Hospital (WMH) for treatment.

After many tests, it was determined that she had a 6-inch hole in her bowel and needed emergency surgery.

Mildred was airlifted to St. Vincent's, where an emergency colostomy was performed and 3 months later, a reversal.

The attending physician informed her that her condition had been life threatening and that she probably wouldn't have survived if it weren’t for the medical staff at WMH that cared for her. From the X-Ray techs, to the team that airlifted her, Mildred has them to thank for being alive to tell her story.

Mildred hadn't planned on going to a hospital, or for a helicopter ride! However, she was glad WMH was close enough to get to, and small enough to care!

Elaine
One Saturday morning Elaine was working in her garden and began having sudden and severe breathing problems. As a nurse, she knew there was something seriously wrong and she made her husband rush her to the WMH Emergency Room. Upon arrival, Elaine was immediately evaluated by the staff, and they realized that her throat was swelling shut due to an unknown respiratory condition. Within minutes, Elaine was intubated with a very small pediatric tube to keep air flowing to her lungs. Elaine was then airlifted to a tertiary care center where she had a small hole inserted into her throat and she was placed on a ventilator for several days until the swelling subsided.  

Without the availability of the WMH ER and the quick action of our expert trained staff Elaine might not be here today to tell her story.

Allen
It was 2 a.m. on an oppressively humid July night and the 97-year-old visitor to the Chautauqua Institution was having trouble breathing. A 911 call to the Chautauqua Rescue Department resulted in shuttling the ailing nonagenarian to Westfield Memorial Hospital where he was immediately diagnosed and treated by WMH’s expert staff of physicians and nurses for pulmonary edema—an accumulation of fluid in the respiratory system.

With exceptional care from WMH, Allen was able to recover and return home the same day. Within the week, he even felt spry enough to attend the baptism of his first great-grandson.

Darren
When a massive heart attack left Darren on the brink of death, emergency personnel from Westfield Memorial Hospital were able to keep him alive long enough to transport him to the Saint Vincent Heart Center in Erie, Pa., where doctors inserted a pair of Thoratec heart assistance devices into his failing organ. Ultimately, he required a heart transplant operation. After his surgery, Darren attended cardiac rehabilitation sessions at WMH—just minutes from his home in rural Chautauqua County.

WMH gave Daren access to emergency care that saved his life. Today, he continues to build his strength, and hope for the future, at our hospital.

The more you talk about Westfield Memorial Hospital, the more you’ll hear stories just like these. Stories of expert care provided in the nick of time. Of doctors, physician assistants and nurses who went above-and-beyond to make patients feel comfortable. Of lives saved because WMH was there for folks, when they least expected it—and when they needed it the most.

Anonymous

Please help Chautauqua County's Westfield Memorial Hospital.

When one is ill, it's important to have faith and trust in the doctors and nurses who treat you. Throughout the past 23 years I have seen countless medical professionals and been hospitalized. Because of this and my unfortunate illnesses, I have had the opportunity to see first hand and be treated by way too many hospitals and doctors offices.

Westfield Memorial Hospital is the gem that stands out above and beyond the others. It is a hospital that knows how to treat people. The compassion and caring staff always goes above and beyond. You know that when you are treated at Westfield Memorial Hospital, the doctors, PA's, and nurses have your best interest in hand and they will do their best in treating you and your family.

Unfortunately, the DOH is trying very hard to shut down some of its critical services. These services are absolutely necessary to the Westfield and surrounding towns within Chautauqua County. By doing so, this could very easily cause unfortunate outcomes.

In a time where healthcare reform is #1 in most every household in the United States, I feel that we should be supporting our community hospitals. Instead of looking for ways to decrease our hospital services, we should be standing behind the very hospitals that provide necessary healthcare to its rural communities.

Sarrah

One day, my daughter Sarrah went to school with a stomach ache, got sick and came home. Sarrah continued to complain about stomach pain, vomit ,and sleep throughout the entire day. Finally around 6pm, as a mother I was worried, no one has a stomach ache and throws up all day long. I called the doctors office and they told me it's probably some bug, and to let it run it's course. That wasn't good enough for me, seeing my little girl so lethargic and listless it just broke my heart. I had my husband put her in the car, and I took her to Westfield Memorial Hospital's Emergency department. I needed a wheel chair to get her from the car to the E.R. and the staff was so nice to help with that. They took her right in, checked her over completely, and diagnosed her with appendicitis, " I'll ever forget the words the nurse told me, " she is a very sick little girl " and Sarrah had an emergency appendectomy that night. The staff was very helpful, gave me all the information I needed, kept me informed of what was going on. Sarrah spent the night at WMH that evening, and the med/surge nurses were wonderful, they were very accomidating to me, a mother who didn't want to leave her little girls side. Thank you WMH staff for helping my daughter in our time of need.

Mildred’s Story

Mildred had been experiencing abdominal pain for a good portion of the day. When the pain began to worsen she was taken to WMH for treatment.

After many tests, it was determined that she had a six (6) inch hole in her bowel and needed emergency surgery.

She was airlifted to St. Vincent's, where an emergency colostomy was performed and three months later a reversal.

The attending Physician commented that her condition had been life threatening and, that she probably wouldn't have made it if it weren’t for the medical staff that was involved in her care from the X-ray techs to the team that airlifted her, Mildred's alive to tell this story.

Mildred hadn't planned on going to a hospital or for a helicopter ride, but was glad for a hospital that was close enough to get to and small enough to care!

If you would like to share your personal story with Westfield Memorial Hospital, please email Cindy Warner