16 FEB 2014
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A Veterans Day To Remember For The Kimmer the drive home afterward, he felt a “gripping pain” in his chest, but he didn’t think it could be a heart attack because he was in good health.“I went home, but I couldn’t sleep or eat,” the Kimmer said. “On Monday, I went to some of the Veterans Day shows, but I still couldn’t sleep or eat. I had told my daughter that I had been feeling really terrible, and on Tuesday, she called a friend to make me go the hospital by actually picking me up and driving me! Talk about a stubborn male, huh.” The neighbor drove him to North Fulton Hospital, where tests were run to determine the cause of his discomfort. The visit to North Fulton was the Kimmer’s first, and he was completely impressed by the care he received there. “At the ER, they took me right back,” he said, “and every person who cared for me was wonderful. The nurses were kind and the person who drew my blood was great!” “Dr. Holliger came in with my test results,” he said, “and told me that I’d had a heart attack. I was admitted to the hospital, and the next day, I had an angioplasty to clear the blockage that was causing all the trouble.” For North Fulton Hospital, Peterson’s visit was remarkable timing. The hospital had opened its new Cardiology Services that Tuesday morning, and his angioplasty was the very first procedure completed in the new facility. “The expansion project for Cardiovascular Services had been in the works for more than a year, and was a passion of mine much longer than that,” said North Fulton Hospital CEO Debbie Keel. “We were thrilled to The Kimmer at the helm be affiliated with WellStar Health of All News 106.7. System in the development of these services, and were very excited to be to provide all of the care Kim Every person I came able Peterson needed during his stay.” into contact with at North Fulton Hospital has consistently provided comprehensive North Fulton was and services dedicated to the great, and they were programs diagnosis and treatment of always there for me. cardiovascular conditions. With the adEven the food was dition of a new Cath Lab, a new Director of Cardiovascular Medicine, beyond expectation. and newly expanded cardiology services, North Fulton Hospital is better equipped than ever before for
Veterans Day has always been important to Kim Peterson, known as the Kimmer to his radio listeners, but now the holiday will hold a different kind of importance. On Sunday, November 10, 2013, the Kimmer suffered a heart attack. A marine and Vietnam Veteran, the Kimmer has always been in great physical shape. He has run marathons, maintained a healthy weight and active lifestyle, and hadn’t had a reason to be in a hospital for years. “As a veteran, I am very much a patriot, and I always participate in the Veterans Day shows and celebrations,” he said, “so I’ll never forget when my heart attack was.” On that Sunday afternoon, the Kimmer had been tending his horse Jack the Good Boy Sunday. During
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Ma Hwang and Ronald Lyles in the new North Fulton Hospital Cath Lab
providing advanced technology, quality care, and highly skilled personnel to treat the unique cardiovascular needs of patients. “I absolutely cannot find the words to say how wonderful every one of the doctors and nurses at North Fulton Hospital are,” he said. “It was immediately apparent that Dr. Sachdeva, who did my angioplasty, was phenomenally skilled. The entire experience was surprisingly impressive!” “I will never forget that first angioplasty,” the Kimmer said. “I was cold, and I commented out loud during the procedure that I was. One of the wonderful nurses came over and took my hand. She just held it and stroked my arm, but it warmed me right up and helped me relax. Every person I came into contact wiht at North Fulton was great, and they were always there for me. Even the food was beyond expectation.” Six days before his heart attack, the Kimmer had started his new show on All News 106.7, and despite the medical care that was necessary, he only missed the show on Tuesday when he was initially receiving care at North Fulton Hospital. For the rest of his hospital stay, he called in to the show from the hospital. The Kimmer has made several
return trips to North Fulton Hospital to continue treatment, including one for a second angioplasty and four to the ER as medication levels were adjusted. Thanks to the care of the many physicians and staff members at North Fulton Hospital, the Kimmer is well on the road to recovery and will enjoy many more Veterans Day celebrations to come. ❍
Kim Peterson with his horse Jack the Good Boy Sunday.