To the Editor:

Over the years I have heard a lot of bad rap about Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital here in my hometown of Ahoskie.

So, I would like to give you my opinion on that hospital and I’m basing my opinion on a first-hand experience there.

I suffered a stroke on May 28 of this year. My husband drove me to the Emergency Room. He went into the E.R. to get a wheelchair for me and that’s where my experience begins.

My husband came out of the E.R. along with two male nurses, one of whom was pushing a wheelchair. The two nurses assisted me getting out of the car and then into the wheelchair. I was then wheeled into a room where the nicest people – doctors and nurses – first proceeded by asking me a lot of questions and then I was wheeled away for a lot of tests.

Everyone was compassionate, competent, and concerned. While they were assisting to my needs, they were supporting and helping each other as a professional team.

As I laid on the bed, very scared of what had happened to me, they all offered me assurance that they were working very hard to find out what my problems were medically. They also made me as comfortable as one can be.

I was admitted that night into Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital and remained there for five days. My stay in the hospital was on the second floor (Room 213). I was blessed to receive excellent care from the doctors, nurses, therapists and other hospital staff during my five-day stay. Everyone took care of me. The hospital staff also excelled in the way they treated my family and friends who visited me.

I have nothing but positive things to say about Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital as well as their staff. I joked with that staff a lot, because that’s just my nature. I told them they would all probably be glad when I was gone because I was always joking and acting crazy! As already said, that’s the way I carry on in life – I’ve always been that way and after 70 years I probably will always be that way.

But getting back to the reason I decided to share this letter with the newspaper, I just wanted to say thanks to all the people that helped me during my stay in Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital. That help and kindness started just moments before I entered the hospital door….with the two male nurses helping me out of the car and into the wheelchair.

I want to thank each and every one of the hospital staff. It takes special people like you to perform that type of work. I love ya’ll and may God bless you all.

Beulah C. Pearce
Ahoskie