Donna Kekoa

On May 26, 2014 approximately @ 8:45am my brother who resides in Keaau was on a family fishing expedition at Ninole, Ka’u near Punalu’u Beach Park.  As he was walking into the area he encountered severe chest pain. Lucky my sister in law a registered nurse advised my brother they needed to go directly to Ka’u Hospital….

When I got to the hospital half an hour after I got the call from my brother’s wife the ER staff was in full swing of things. I witnessed Dr. Patricia Mullen, ER MD on call on the phone with the Doctor Cogan at Queen’s Medical Center; Phillip Galon, ER RN on the phone making arranging for my brother to have the Medical chopper to come and Tithing Chun ER admitting clerk also on the phone making arrangements with another company as the weather was windy one of the chopper did not want to come to Ka’u. Kris Reed, RN also was there taking care of my brother and assuring the family everything will be alright.  I work for the Ka’u Hospital Rural Health Clinic and that day as a community member  I witnessed what an awesome staff we have here at Ka’u Hospital ER, they worked together vigorously in making the necessary arrangements for my brother to be flown to Queen’s Medical Center.  He was transported by Hawaii Life their ETA came exact time they said they would. With all the arrangements done by our Ka’u staff and Doctor Mullen, by time he reach Queens everyone involved was ready for him, he was sent into surgery. By the time my sister in law arrived my brother was already in his room recovering. I wish I could have video taped the whole incident it for all to see as to what my eyes had witnessed. He arrived at our facility 0850 by 1037 my brother was on that chopper heading out to Oahu what a team!

People outside of Ka’u, those in office who represent Ka’u and those who make decisions of our Hawaii Health Systems Cooperation need to know and realize how important it is to keep Ka’u Hospital and Rural Health Clinic opened in our rural area. It serves not only our community but also for visitors who are in dire need. Had we not have our facility my brother probably would have died; they (Ka’u) played a major role in saving my brother’s life that day. Today my brother is recovered; he is well and able to go back to work because of the efforts and urgency of the ER staff that day, together they put their hands to the plow to safe someone’s husband, father, son and brother.

Mahalo Ka’u Hospital Staff and Dr. Patricia Mullen Queens Medical Center Staff and Dr Cogan; MahaloKeAkua!

Donna Kekoa, Patient Representative at Ka’u Hospital Rural Health Clinic