New nurse puts training to use, saves mother-in-law
Staff writer
Linda Brewer, 52, is back at work this week after a harrowing experience a month ago in which her daughter-in-law very likely saved her life.
Linda thought she was merely dehydrated after working outside. She went inside to get some water and started having severe chest pains.
Unsure what was going on, she called her daughter-in-law Misty Brewer. Misty graduated from Hutchinson Community College in May with an associate’s degree in nursing.
Misty never thought she would use her degree so soon. She knew right away that Linda was having a heart attack.
“She made me sit down and chew up an aspirin while she called the paramedics,” Linda said.
Marion ambulance rushed Linda to St. Luke Hospital where it was determined that a blood clot had blocked an artery in her heart.
“The doctor said if I had not gotten to the hospital so fast, then I wouldn’t be here today,” Linda said. “I’m very lucky.”
Misty agrees Linda was lucky.
“I had good training so I was glad to be able to use it,” Misty said. “It’s one thing to learn about situations like this in the classroom and another to experience it in person.”
After her heart attack, Linda was flown by helicopter on June 15 to another hospital for specialized treatment, but has since made a full recovery.
“Last week was my first full week at work at Western Graphics,” Linda said. “I still tire easily, but there’s nothing the doctor said I can’t do.
“I teased Misty and said she missed her chance to get rid of me,” Linda said. “Some daughters-in-law would have jumped at that chance.
“I’m glad it all happened the way it did though. It made us closer.”
Misty will attend Newman University in the fall to work on a bachelor’s in nursing. She hopes to specialize in obstetrics after graduation.