LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Master Sgt. Alvin Harris, Headquarters Air Force vehicle management and support action officer, laid bare his emotions to personnel at U.S. Air Force Hospital Langley, Langley Air Force Base, Va., March 22 for giving him a second chance at life.
Harris was admitted to the emergency room Jan. 11 complaining of acute chest pain. That same night, Harris was lying in a hospital bed in the intensive care unit wearing a breathing apparatus.
"When you see other people on a stretcher, you don't realize how serious it can be," said Harris. "Once I was in that bed, I started thinking of my family's medical history, my kids, my wife... it was overwhelming."
During his stay, Harris experienced a roller coaster of emotion where his future hanged in the balance.
"For me, I didn't know how serious my condition was," said Harris. "My father died of heart attack, so I couldn't help but wonder 'Am I next?'"
Before Harris discovered the severity of his condition, he knew the staff was on his side.
"I thought I had the flu, so I went in to get meds," said Harris. "When I mentioned I had chest pains, I got into a room almost immediately."
The staff evaluated Harris on the spot, and even though the attending technician was training new Airmen, Harris felt comforted and in good hands.
"The big part was keeping me informed," said Harris. "Just knowing my current condition and what they were doing really put me at ease."
With Harris's family history of heart disease, he immediately began to worry about his cardiovascular health. After being admitted into the ICU, he discovered the chest pain didn't come from his heart.
"As I was lying in bed, the staff told me my breathing was shallow; almost nonexistent," said Harris. "The doctor gave me some oxygen, and let me tell you something, it feels real good to breathe."
After receiving oxygen, Harris's condition improved. The ICU staff suspected his discomfort might be from a sleeping problem, so he was sent away with a referral to a sleep clinic where he was eventually diagnosed with sleep apnea.
A few hospital visits later, Harris was given a sleeping apparatus and the cardiologist said he was not in any immediate threat of heart attack or other cardiovascular injuries.
With this new energy from his sleeping apparatus, Harris's quality of life improved, and he just couldn't contain his gratitude.
Harris came back to the hospital one more time on March 22 and told the staff, through choked back tears of gratitude, how much their dedication, professionalism and compassion helped him through a troubling time.
"I'm alive, I can breathe. You made that happen for me," said Harris, addressing the medical staff. "If no one ever says thank you, know that my family thanks you; know that I thank you."
After heart-felt hugs and shared gratitude, dry eyes were hard to come by. Harris said his energy levels have increased and his quality of life has improved significantly. However, for those Airmen in the crowd, not only did they give a man a second chance at life, they also achieved the pinnacle of any medical professional; providing quality care through commitment, passion and love for all.