Harold Heidegger

Retiree Harold Heidegger was no stranger to Poinciana Hospital. Located directly across the street from his home, Harold had spent over 2,000 hours volunteering at the hospital since 2017. So, one morning when the words on his newspaper suddenly became garbled, Harold knew exactly where to go.

Upon arriving at Poinciana Hospital, Harold was warmly received and ushered quickly into an exam room. "After a series of initial tests, the emergency department personnel told me I needed to be admitted into the hospital. Though they weren't sure what the cause of my fuzzy vision was yet, the doctors and nurses communicated openly and helped assure me they'd get to the bottom of it."

After further testing, Harold's care team determined he had experienced a transient ischemic attack (TIA). "They explained it was a brief interruption of blood flow to the part of your brain that causes temporary stroke-like symptoms. My wife and I were immediately concerned, but my doctor took the time to explain exactly why it happens — and how I can avoid future episodes."

Once he was discharged with care instructions, Harold went home to rest and was soon feeling back to normal. He continues to donate his time and talents volunteering at the hospital — something that has become even more fulfilling. "Volunteering at Poinciana Hospital is something I look forward to each week. Every member of their team is professional and kind, and they treat patients like they, themselves, would want to be treated. It's a privilege to be a small part of that."