Dr. Strand…Huge Coup for Bonners

When I opened the paper on Thursday April 12, I was shocked to see a picture of my very own Dr. Marilyn Strand announcing that she would be relocating to Bonners Ferry. What a HUGE coup for this community. I love Dr. Strand and probably more important to the community, is the fact that she literally saved my life!

I saw Dr. Strand on her last day of practice in Sandpoint. At that time, I had been seeing her for approximately three or four years. I told her of my shortness of breath and fatigue and she told me to get an Aden Stress Test right away.

I took the test the following week and failed miserably. I was then scheduled for an angiogram at Kootenai Medical Center the following Friday.

After four hours they woke me up to tell me that I had two blockages that could not be repaired by stint or angioplasty, and I was scheduled for open heart surgery the first thing Monday morning, March 26.

Both of my cardiologists told me that Dr. Strand had truly saved my life because as we often read, "women do not typically get the chest pains that men experience."

Besides being my "hero," she's also a very personable person, and I hope this community extends her a huge Bonners Ferry Welcome. We are truly blessed.

Sincerely

Sue Esrey

Bonners Ferry