» Volunteer’s Story, Group Strength

A VOLuNTEER’S STORY GROup STRENGTH

When Jon Derby had his bypass surgery, he was 63 years old, “and to be honest with you, I thought it was the beginning of the end,” he says. “I had a 75 percent blockage and it happened to be right where the main coronary artery entered the heart. I was told that if I did have an incident, I wouldn’t hear the ambulance.”

Jon had the surgery and then came to the Hospital for cardiac rehab, where his life turned around. “It was encouraging for me to find people who had been through what I’d been through, and lived and gone on and continued to do well. They might have all kinds of issues, but they go on. I find it really inspiring.”

He now enjoys the satisfaction of giving back. “I had been going to cardiac rehab for 3 or 4 months. There’s usually a volunteer there, but one day there wasn’t and I opened my mouth and said, ‘Where’s the volunteer today?’ And the lady on the treadmill next to me said, ‘why don’t you volunteer?’ So I did. I’m so proud to be part of the Auxiliary and everything we’re doing. My life’s gotten really full. Having something like cardiac rehab available changed my life. It gave me hope and a greater perspective on what is real in the world again.”

“My wife’s really proud of me again – the first time in a long time I could say that. We’ve been married 45 years and this is one of the strongest, best times in our marriage.”

Opposite: Auxiliary Volunteers with Jon Derby on the far right.

46 SONOMA VALLEY HOSpITAL

2011 ANNuAL REpORT 47